EXERCISE PRESCRIPTION OF WUDANG ZHAOBAO TAI CHI SINGLE‑PALM EXERCISE FOR ADOLESCENT CHRONIC INSOMNIA: A CHINA‑THAILAND SCOPING REVIEW

Abstract

Adolescent insomnia is a prevalent public‑health concern that impairs cognitive function, emotional regulation and physical development. Pharmacological treatments carry risks of adverse reactions and dependence, especially for young populations. Structured mind‑body exercise prescription represents a promising non‑pharmacological alternative for this population. Wudang Zhaobao Tai Chi Single‑Palm Exercise, inherited by Gongxuan Wang, is a simplified mind‑body practice rooted in traditional Chinese medicine. This scoping review was conducted following PRISMA‑ScR guidelines combined with the JBI evidence‑grading framework. Three methodological innovations were implemented: a China‑Thailand cross‑cultural evidence‑coding framework, a dose‑response standardized‑coding system for Tai‑Chi intervention, and dual‑standard evidence appraisal. We aimed to map available evidence regarding Wudang Zhaobao Tai Chi Single‑Palm Exercise for adolescents aged 15‑19 years with ICD‑diagnosed chronic insomnia (sleep‑onset difficulty ≥ 6 months). Methods: Multiple Chinese and English databases were searched together with grey‑literature resources. Pre‑specified inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. Two independent reviewers screened records, extracted data and coded evidence. Cohen’s Kappa coefficient was calculated to evaluate inter‑rater reliability, with a final value of 0.87 indicating good inter‑rater agreement. Evidence was synthesized via thematic and cross‑cultural comparative analysis. Results: Three pilot studies involving a total of 32 participants from China and Thailand were included.Participants performed 500 repetitions per hand daily for 30 consecutive days. After intervention, PSQI and ISI scores declined to normal ranges and stable sleep‑wake rhythms were restored. Conclusion: Preliminary evidence suggests that Wudang Zhaobao Tai Chi Single‑Palm Exercise may relieve chronic sleep‑onset difficulty among adolescents in both Chinese and Thai cultural contexts. The established dose‑coding system and cross‑cultural evaluation framework can support future standardized trials. Limitations include small sample sizes and absence of randomized controlled designs. Further large‑scale multi‑centre randomized trials incorporating physiological biomarkers are required to verify efficacy and underlying mechanisms.