2.3.2. Morning exercise group.
The participants in the treatment group adhered to their routine drug treatment program while maintaining the same diet and daily regimen as those in the waiting treatment group. Additionally, they performed Liuzijue exercises for 12 weeks. Before the formal commencement of the experiment, qualified healthcare professionals provided group instruction and training sessions on the “Liuzijue Exercise of Fitness Qigong.” The State Administration of Sports of China developed and endorsed the exercise in 2003. The teaching sessions covered essential components such as breath guidance, pronunciation for exhalation, key body movement points, and precautions. The aim was to ensure consistent execution of movements, posture, frequency, and mental focus among subjects. The regimen was officially implemented only after healthcare professionals confirmed that the issues had mastered the principles and steps of the Liuzijue exercise program. Exercise sessions were scheduled for 1 hour, specifically on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from 9:00 to 10:00 each week. The exercise routine consisted of 2 minutes of preparatory activities, including chest expansion exercises, stretching exercises, and other actions to stretch out the joints and muscles of the whole body. This was followed by 56 minutes of exercise, with each set of movements lasting approximately 13 minutes. The entire collection of moves was performed 4 times, with a 2-minute break between each 2 times. After the exercise, there were approximately 2 minutes for finishing activities, where some simple relaxation movements and stretching, such as patting the leg muscles and moving all joints, were performed. Tailored exercise intensity was developed based on the individual circumstances of each participant. In other words, during the exercise process, the participant’s heart rate needed to reach the target heart rate for 5 to 10 minutes. The formula for calculating the target heart rate was: [(220-age)-resting heart rate]*(60–80%) + resting heart rate.