Abstract

Neck pain is one of the earliest and most prominent clinical manifestations of cervical spondylosis. Its impact is not confined to the cervical region but may also extend to the head, back, shoulders, and upper limbs, significantly affecting patients’ physical and mental health as well as their overall quality of life. As a traditional exercise-based intervention, Health Qigong has shown particular clinical value in alleviating neck pain associated with cervical spondylosis and improving cervical dysfunction. However, systematic research comparing the effects of different Health Qigong routines on neck pain among college students with cervical spondylosis remains limited. This study employed a cluster randomised controlled trial (CRCT) design to investigate the effects of three Health Qigong routines - Yi Jin Jing (YJJ), Wu Qin Xi (WQX), and Ba Duan Jin (BDJ)- on neck pain related to cervical spondylosis in Chinese college students. Participants aged 18 to 24 were recruited and randomly assigned to three experimental groups (EG-YJJ, EG-WQX, EG-BDJ) and one control group (CG-WE, walking exercise), with the intervention lasting two weeks. Neck pain was assessed before and after the intervention. The results showed that all experimental groups experienced significant reductions in neck pain compared to the control group, with the EG-YJJ group demonstrating the most pronounced improvement. These findings provide further evidence for the effectiveness of Health Qigong in relieving cervical spondylosis-related pain in college students and support its inclusion in exercise prescription frameworks for chronic disease management and health promotion.