Liu Y, Yao BB, Zhong WW, Guo S, Wei PD. Efficacy of abdominal vibration technique in Tuina in reducing depression, anxiety, and stress in patients with prediabetes. World J Psychiatry 2025; 15(11): 109331 [PMID: 41281524 DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v15.i11.109331]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Pei-Dong Wei, MD, Department of Tuina and Physiotherapy, Dongfang Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 6 District 1, Fangxingyuan, Fengtai District, Beijing 100078, China. qq66326739@yeah.net
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Psychiatry
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Prospective Study
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Nov 19, 2025 (publication date) through Mar 10, 2026
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World Journal of Psychiatry
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2220-3206
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Liu Y, Yao BB, Zhong WW, Guo S, Wei PD. Efficacy of abdominal vibration technique in Tuina in reducing depression, anxiety, and stress in patients with prediabetes. World J Psychiatry 2025; 15(11): 109331 [PMID: 41281524 DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v15.i11.109331]
World J Psychiatry. Nov 19, 2025; 15(11): 109331 Published online Nov 19, 2025. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v15.i11.109331
Efficacy of abdominal vibration technique in Tuina in reducing depression, anxiety, and stress in patients with prediabetes
Yang Liu, Bin-Bin Yao, Wei-Wei Zhong, Sheng Guo, Pei-Dong Wei
Yang Liu, Sheng Guo, Pei-Dong Wei, Department of Tuina and Physiotherapy, Dongfang Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100078, China
Bin-Bin Yao, Department of Tuina and Physiotherapy, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
Wei-Wei Zhong, Department of General Outpatient, Third Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
Author contributions: Liu Y was responsible for the overall research design, data analysis, experiment implementation, and manuscript writing; Yao BB was involved in data collection and experiment implementation, assisting with data analysis and discussion of results; Zhong WW provided support in experimental design and data analysis, offering technical assistance; Guo S contributed to data collection and experiment implementation, as well as assisting with parts of the manuscript writing; Wei PD guided the overall direction of the study and contributed to data analysis and revisions of the manuscript; all of the authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript to be published.
Supported by National High Level Chinese Medicine Hospital Clinical Research Funding, No. DFGZRA-2024GJRC010; and The Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, No. 2024-JYB-JBZD-031.
Institutional review board statement: This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the Clinical Research Center of Dongfang Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine.
Clinical trial registration statement: This study is registered at the Clinical Registry (researchregistry11419).
Informed consent statement: All study participants, provided written consent before study enrollment.
Conflict-of-interest statement: We declare that there is no conflict of interest.
CONSORT 2010 statement: The authors have read the CONSORT 2010 Statement, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the CONSORT 2010 Statement.
Data sharing statement: There is no additional data available.
Corresponding author: Pei-Dong Wei, MD, Department of Tuina and Physiotherapy, Dongfang Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 6 District 1, Fangxingyuan, Fengtai District, Beijing 100078, China. qq66326739@yeah.net
Received: July 1, 2025 Revised: August 1, 2025 Accepted: September 2, 2025 Published online: November 19, 2025 Processing time: 125 Days and 18.6 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Prediabetes is a high-risk precursor for diabetes development and is associated with increased psychological distress. Conventional pharmacological treatments for prediabetes have limitations, including adverse effects and poor patient compliance. Tuina’s abdominal vibration technique, a traditional non-pharmacological intervention, has shown promising results in glycemic regulation. However, its effects on psychological well-being remain largely unexplored.
AIM
To investigate efficacy of abdominal vibration at varying frequencies in Tuina for alleviating psychological and metabolic effects in prediabetes patients.
METHODS
A prospective cohort study (April 2025 to April 2026) at Dongfang Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine included 120 prediabetes patients. Participants were allocated to three groups based on vibration frequency: (1) Low-frequency (400 times/minute, n = 40); (2) Medium-frequency (500 times/minute, n = 40); and (3) High-frequency (600 times/minute, n = 40). All participants received 30-minute sessions three times weekly for 3 months, with follow-up at 6 months and 12 months. Primary outcomes included changes in depression (Beck Depression Inventory-II), anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), and stress (Perceived Stress Scale) levels.
RESULTS
After a 3-month intervention period, with follow-ups at 6 months and 12 months, patients in all three groups showed significant improvements in depression, anxiety, and stress scores compared to baseline (P < 0.001). The high-frequency group demonstrated the most substantial psychological improvements (mean reduction in depression scores: 9.2 ± 2.3 points; anxiety: 8.7 ± 2.1 points; stress: 10.4 ± 2.5 points). These psychological improvements correlated significantly with reductions in insulin resistance (r = 0.68, P < 0.001). The high-frequency group also showed the most significant improvements in glycemic parameters, with mean reductions in fasting plasma glucose, 2-hour postprandial glucose, and glycosylated hemoglobin concentrations of 0.92 mmol/L, 1.87 mmol/L, and 0.51%, respectively. Correlation analysis revealed significant associations between improved psychological parameters and enhanced glycemic control.
CONCLUSION
Tuina’s abdominal vibration technique, especially at high frequency reduces depression, anxiety, and stress in prediabetes patients, correlating with enhanced glycemic control and insulin sensitivity, suggesting a bidirectional relationship between psychological and metabolic health.
Core Tip: This study explored the impact of different frequencies of abdominal vibration in Tuina on psychological well-being and insulin resistance (IR) in patients with prediabetes. The findings shows that all vibration frequencies significantly reduce depression, anxiety, and stress, with the high-frequency group showing the greatest improvements. These psychological benefits were strongly associated with better glycemic control and reduced IR, highlighting a potential bidirectional relationship between psychological health and metabolic outcomes in prediabetes management.
