# Sitting Baduanjin Combined With Acupoint Massage on Frailty in Patients Undergoing Maintenance Hemodialysis: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

## TL;DR

This study tests if a combination of sitting Baduanjin and acupoint massage improves frailty and quality of life in hemodialysis patients.

## Contribution

The novel approach combines traditional Chinese exercises and acupoint massage for frailty management in hemodialysis patients.

## Key findings

- The study will compare physical and mental health outcomes across three treatment groups.
- Results may provide evidence for nonpharmacological interventions in hemodialysis patients.
- Frailty and quality of life will be evaluated using standardized clinical measures.

## Abstract

Patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) endure weakness due to prolonged dialysis treatment, such as the continuous decline of muscle strength in patients, which will have varying degrees of impact on human physiological, psychological, and social functions. Effective nonpharmacological interventions can improve their mental health and quality of life (QoL).

This study aimed to investigate the effects of sitting Baduanjin combined with acupoint massage on improving the frailty status of patients undergoing MHD and evaluate whether it can significantly improve their physical activity, alleviate depressive emotions, and comprehensively improve their QoL.

This is a randomized controlled study to be conducted in the Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, comprising 114 patients to be treated using MHD. Patients who meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria will be randomly divided into 3 groups: the control group will receive only conventional hemodialysis and care, the acupoint massage group will receive acupoint massage treatment in addition to the control group treatment, and the sitting combined with acupoint massage group will receive sitting Baduanjin combined with acupoint massage and the control group treatment. We aim to comprehensively evaluate the clinical efficacy by comparing the FRAIL (Fatigue, Resistance, Ambulation, Illness, and Weight Loss) scale scores, grip strength, 10 times sit-to-stand test, Self-Rating Depression Scale scores, and QoL (Short Form Health Survey Questionnaire) scores before and after 8 weeks of treatment among the 3 groups. Statistical analysis will be conducted using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software (version 25.0; IBM Corporation).

The first participant was enrolled on August 8, 2024. As of August 2025, a total of 52 participants have been fully registered, and the intervention is currently in progress. We expect the completion of this trial to occur within the year 2025.

The results of this study can provide a scientific basis for the future treatment of patients with asthenia in hemodialysis.