Effect of Baduanjin Exercise on the Rehabilitation of Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Enhancing the physical function, psychological state and quality of life of hemodialysis patients represents a significant challenge in the rehabilitation process. Baduanjin training is a Chinese martial-arts exercise combined with TCM (traditional Chinese medicine), and increasing numbers of studies have shown its positive effects on clinical rehabilitation of maintenance different groups. However, there is currently no systematic review to evaluate the effect of Baduanjin training on the rehabilitation of hemodialysis patients. Objective: To systematically evaluate the effects of Baduanjin on physical function, psychological state and quality of life of hemodialysis patients. Methods: Six databases (PubMed, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, China Biology Medicine, China Science and Technology Periodical) were searched from inception through July 2025. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effect of Baduanjin exercise on the clinical physical rehabilitation of patients were included. Review Manager 5.4 software was used to assess the risk of bias in the included studies and to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the data in accordance with the methods provided in the revised Cochrane Handbook. Results: Baduanjin training showed significant benefit for the rehabilitation of maintenance hemodialysis patients, including overall quality of life, psychology and physical function and their sub-domains, but no significance was found in 6MWD or ASM (a sub-domain of life), HB or Serum Phosphorus (a sub-domain of physical). No related adverse events were reported in the included studies. Conclusions: The research results of this review indicate that Baduanjin is safe and effective for the psychological rehabilitation and quality of life improvement of maintenance hemodialysis patients, and may be beneficial to some physical functions. However, before drawing more definite conclusions, more trials with larger sample sizes and more rigorous designs are needed.