---
title: Does Baduanjin, a traditional Chinese exercise, reduce PMS symptoms?
description: Yes, women who practiced Baduanjin for three menstrual cycles showed significant reductions in both physical and emotional PMS symptoms.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/baduanjin-exercise-improved-premenstrual-syndrome-symptoms-in-macau-women-2014/
---

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- Does Baduanjin, a traditional Chinese exercise, reduce PMS symptoms?

Survey study, 2014

# Does Baduanjin, a traditional Chinese exercise, reduce PMS symptoms?

Yes, women who practiced Baduanjin for three menstrual cycles showed significant reductions in both physical and emotional PMS symptoms.

 Early or limited evidence

40 women with PMS in Macau

## What they did

Forty women with PMS in Macau practiced standardized Baduanjin exercise for three menstrual cycles. Researchers measured symptom severity daily using the Daily Record of Severity of Problems (DRSP) questionnaire, starting from the cycle before exercise began through three cycles after starting.

## What they found

After the exercise period, total DRSP scores during the five premenstrual days were significantly reduced. Physical symptom scores during the five premenstrual days were also significantly reduced. Emotional symptoms including depressed mood, anxious mood, loss of interest, and reduced social activity showed reduced differences between premenstrual and follicular phases.

## What it means for you

Baduanjin may help reduce PMS symptoms, especially physical ones. This is potentially useful since it is accessible and low-cost. However, the study had no control group and only 40 women, so we cannot confirm the exercise alone caused the improvement.

40

women with PMS studied

3

menstrual cycles of exercise

5

premenstrual days tracked

## About the study

Original title Baduanjin exercise improved premenstrual syndrome symptoms in Macau women Authors Zhang H, Zhu M, Song Y et al. Journal Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan Year 2014 Study design Survey study What was tested Baduanjin exercise for three menstrual cycles Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/s0254-6272(15)30047-9](https://doi.org/10.1016/s0254-6272(15)30047-9)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Exercise and yoga](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-exercise/)

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