A Prospective Study: Tai-chi and Post-COVID Insomnia

The Impact of Adding Tai-chi Training to Pharmacotherapy in Post Covid Insomnia: a Prospective Study.

The goal of this study is to see if Tai-Chi exercises (a type of Chinese martial arts) can help people suffering from insomnia after COVID-19 when added with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and drugs compared to CBT and drugs alone. All participants will receive education on sleep hygiene practices, and the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). If these approaches were insufficient, they will be given sleep aids, primarily Z-drugs.

All study subjects engaged in a simple Tai Chi training program for two weeks. The Tai Chi training consisted of a series of gentle physical exercises that incorporated elements of meditation, body awareness, imagery, and abdominal breathing.

A professional instructor conducted two training sessions for both patients and controls, ensuring that participants could perform the exercises independently at home during the last hour before sleep. Each session lasted twenty minutes, to be done daily. Participants were given a checklist documenting their sleep and exercise diary to confirm adherence for at least five days each week. After the two-week period, all participants are reassessed using the Insomnia severity index.

Inclusion Criteria:

• COVID-19 infections confirmed by PCR (polymerase chain reaction)
• Over the age of 18 years

Exclusion Criteria:

• Below the age of 18 years
• Severely ill patients
• Patients with chronic respiratory complications
• Individuals with pre-existing and ongoing depression or anxiety