气功

BackgroundChronic fatigue is common in the general population. Complementary therapies are often used by patients with chronic fatigue or chronic fatigue syndrome to manage their symptoms.PurposeThis study aimed to assess the effect of a 4-month qigong intervention program among patients with chronic fatigue or chronic fatigue syndrome.MethodsSixty-four participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a wait list control group. Outcome measures included fatigue symptoms, physical functioning, mental functioning, and telomerase activity.ResultsFatigue symptoms and mental functioning were significantly improved in the qigong group compared to controls. Telomerase activity increased in the qigong group from 0.102 to 0.178 arbitrary units (p < 0.05). The change was statistically significant when compared to the control group (p < 0.05).ConclusionQigong exercise may be used as an alternative and complementary therapy or rehabilitative program for chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Qigong is a gentle exercise that promotes health and well-being. This study evaluated the acute physiological and psychological effects of one session of qigong exercise in older practitioners. A total of 45 participants (mean age, 65.14 years) were recruited. Meridian electrical conductance, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), heart rate variability (HRV), and Short Form 36 (SF-36) were evaluated and compared before and after one session of qigong exercise. The results revealed that the electrical conductance of all meridians, except spleen and bladder meridians, increased significantly (p < 0.05). Compared with baseline values, upper to lower body ratio and sympathetic/vagal index were significantly improved and closer to 1 (p = 0.011 and p = 0.007, resp.). STAI-S and STAI-T scores decreased significantly (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, resp.). The RR interval of HRV decreased significantly (p = 0.035), a significant positive correlation was observed between kidney meridian electrical conductance and SF-36 physical scores (r = 0.74, p = 0.018), and a positive correlation was observed between pericardium meridian electrical conductance and SF-36 mental scores (r = 0.50, p = 0.06). In conclusion, one session of qigong exercise increased meridian electrical conductance, reduced anxiety, and improved body and autonomic nervous system balance. These findings provide scientific evidence for acute physiological and psychological effects of qigong exercise in older practitioners.

Background Some of the most debilitating symptoms of fibromyalgia (FM) include widespread chronic pain, sleep disturbances, chronic fatigue, anxiety, and depression. Yet, there is a lack of effective self-management exercise interventions capable of alleviating FM symptoms. The objective of this study is to examine the efficacy of a 10-week daily Qigong, a mind–body intervention program, on FM symptoms. Methods 20 participants with FM were randomly assigned to Qigong (experimental) or sham-Qigong (control) groups, with participants blinded to the intervention allocation. The Qigong group practiced mild body movements synchronized with deep diaphragmatic breathing and meditation. The sham-Qigong group practiced only mild body movements. Both groups practiced the interventions two times per day at home, plus one weekly group practice session with a Qigong instructor. Primary outcomes were: pain changes measured by the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire, a visual analog scale for pain, pressure pain threshold measured by a dolorimeter. Secondary outcomes were: the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Quality of Life Scale. Results The experimental group experienced greater clinical improvements when compared to the control group on the mean score differences of pain, sleep quality, chronic fatigue, anxiety, depression, and fibromyalgia impact, all being statistically significant at p < 0.05. Conclusion Daily practice of Qigong appears to have a positive impact on the main fibromyalgia symptoms that is beyond group interaction. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03441997.

… Origin of Qigong Like many ancient Chinese exercises the origin of Qigong is largely unknown… It was emphasized by Hua To when he applied the principles of Qigong to his therapeutic …

Objective. Research examining psychological and physiological benefits of Qigong and Tai Chi is growing rapidly. The many practices described as Qigong or Tai Chi have similar theoretical roots, proposed mechanisms of action, and expected benefits. Research trials and reviews, however, treat them as separate targets of examination. This review examines the evidence for achieving outcomes from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of both. Data Sources. The key words Tai Chi, Taiji, Tai Chi Chuan, and Qigong were entered into electronic search engines for the Cumulative Index for Allied Health and Nursing (CINAHL), psychological literature (PsycINFO), PubMed, Cochrane database, and Google Scholar. Study Inclusion Criteria. RCTs reporting on the results of Qigong or Tai Chi interventions and published in peer-reviewed journals from 1993 to 2007. Data Extraction. Country, type and duration of activity, number/type of subjects, control conditions, and reported outcomes were recorded for each study. Synthesis. Outcomes related to Qigong and Tai Chi practice were identified and evaluated. Results. Seventy-seven articles met the inclusion criteria. The nine outcome category groupings that emerged were bone density (n = 4), cardiopulmonary effects (n = 19), physical function (n = 16), falls and related risk factors (n = 23), quality of life (n = 17), self-efficacy (n = 8), patient-reported outcomes (n = 13), psychological symptoms (n = 27), and immune function (n = 6). Conclusions. Research has demonstrated consistent, significant results for a number of health benefits in RCTs, evidencing progress toward recognizing the similarity and equivalence of Qigong and Tai Chi.

… While Qigong may hold promise as an intervention strategy, the underlying brain … This systematic review aims to investigate Qigong-induced brain changes and their associations with …

Background: The purpose of this study was to systematically review the effectiveness of Tai Chi and Qigong exercise on adolescents' symptoms of depression and anxiety, and psychological status based on clinical evidences, and to calculate the pooled results using meta-analysis. Methods: A systematic search using seven English and three Chinese databases was initiated to identify randomized controlled trials (RCT) and non-randomized comparison studies (NRS) assessing the effect of Tai Chi and Qigong exercise on psychological status among adolescents. Standardized mean differences (SMD) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to determine the pooled effect of the intervention. Study quality was evaluated using a Checklist to Evaluate a Report of a Non-pharmacological Trial (CLEAR-NPT) designed for non-pharmacological trials. Results: Four RCTs and six NRS were identified, including 1,244 adolescents. The results suggested a potential beneficial effect of Tai chi and Qigong exercise on reducing anxiety (SMD = 0.386, 95 CI% [0.233, 0.538]) and depression (SMD = 1.937 [95 CI%, 1.392–2.546]) symptoms, and reducing cortisol level (SMD = 0.621 [95 CI%, 0.18–1.062]) in adolescents. Conversely, non-significant effects were found for stress, mood, and self-esteem. Conclusions: The findings of this review suggest Qigong appears to be an effective therapeutic modality to improve psychological well-being in adolescents. Hope future studies will have rigorously designed, well-controlled randomized trials with large sample sizes in order to confirm these findings.

… In the exercise group, blood pressure also decreased significantly from 140.9±… qigong and conventional exercise were found. In conclusion, Guolin qigong and conventional exercise …

Objective. To evaluate clinical trial evidence of the effectiveness of qigong exercise on depressive and anxiety symptoms. Methods. Thirteen databases were searched from their respective inception through December 2012. Relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Effects of qigong across trials were pooled. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) were calculated for the pooled effects. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I 2 test. Study quality was evaluated using the Wayne Checklist. Results. Twelve RCTs met the inclusion criteria. The results of meta-analyses suggested a beneficial effect of qigong exercise on depressive symptoms when compared to waiting-list controls or usual care only (SMD = −0.75; 95% CI, −1.44 to −0.06), group newspaper reading (SMD = −1.24; 95% CI, −1.64 to −0.84), and walking or conventional exercise (SMD = −0.52; 95% CI, −0.85 to −0.19), which might be comparable to that of cognitive-behavioral therapy (P = 0.54). Available evidence did not suggest a beneficial effect of qigong exercise on anxiety symptoms. Conclusion. Qigong may be potentially beneficial for management of depressive symptoms, but the results should be interpreted with caution due to the limited number of RCTs and associated methodological weaknesses. Further rigorously designed RCTs are warranted.

Our recent study demonstrates that adiponectin signaling plays a significant role in mediating physical exercise-exerted effects on hippocampal neurogenesis and antidepression in mice. Whether the findings can be translated to humans remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Baduanjin Qigong exercise on adiponectin and to evaluate whether adiponectin is involved in the antidepressive effects of Qigong exercise on chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)-like illness. This is a randomized, waitlist-controlled trial. One hundred eight female participants were randomly assigned to either Qigong exercise or waitlist groups. Sixteen 1.5-h Qigong lessons were conducted. Outcome measures were taken at three time points. Baseline adiponectin levels were negatively associated with body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, and waist/hip ratio in women with CFS-like illness. Compared with the waitlist control, Qigong exercise significantly reduced anxiety and depression symptoms and significantly raised plasma adiponectin levels (median = 0.8 vs. −0.1, p < 0.05). More interestingly, increases in adiponectin levels following Qigong exercise were associated with decreases in depression scores for the Qigong group (r = −0.38, p = 0.04). Moreover, adjusted linear regression analysis further identified Qigong exercise and change in adiponectin levels as the significant factors accounting for reduction of depression symptoms. Baduanjin Qigong significantly increased adiponectin levels in females with CFS-like illness. Decreases in depression symptoms were associated with increases in adiponectin levels following Qigong exercise, indicating that the potential contribution of adiponectin to Qigong exercise elicited antidepressive effects in human subjects.

… -one regular qigong practitioners therefore engaged in either 30 or 60 min of qigong exercise … style of this study, personally recommend a minimum of 60 min of daily qigong exercise for …

The elderly are at high risk of contracting respiratory infectious diseases, including COVID-19 infection. The recent pandemic has the potential to cause significant physical and mental damage in older adults. Similarly to other mind-body exercises in Traditional Chinese medicine, Qigong features regulation of breath rhythm and pattern, body movement and posture, and meditation. Given these traits, Qigong has the potential to play a role in the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of respiratory infections, such as COVID-19. Potential mechanisms of action include stress reduction, emotion regulation, strengthening of respiratory muscles, reduction of inflammation, and enhanced immune function. Three forms of Qigong; abdominal breathing, Ba Duan Jin and Liu Zi Jue, all of which are gentle, smooth, and simple for the elderly to practice, are recommended in this context.

Objective: Sleep disorder and fatigue are among a few major concerns of breast cancer survivors across the survivorship trajectory. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine feasibility and trends in multiple outcomes after a 6-week Qigong exercise program in breast cancer survivors. Methods: Eight female adults (mean age 55.4 ± 9.4 years, mean time after the completion of cancer treatment 3.9 ± 5.7 years) who had a diagnosis of breast cancer and were at least 3 months postcompletion of primary cancer treatment prior to participation in this study. Baseline evaluation was administered using subjective questionnaires on sleep quality, insomnia, fatigue, and quality of life. All subjects participated in two training sessions to learn the "Six Healing Sound" Qigong exercise and attended group Qigong sessions once per week in the following 6 weeks. In addition to the group sessions, subjects were asked to perform the Qigong exercises twice at home right before going to bed in the evening and immediately after getting up in the morning. Following the 6-week intervention, subjects were re-assessed using the same questionnaires. Pre- and post-intervention scores were analyzed for statistical significance. Results: Compliance rate was 89.6% for group sessions and 78.5% (ranging from 65.6% to 90.7%) for daily home Qigong exercises. No participant reported any adverse event or side effect during the study. All participants indicated in the end-intervention questionnaire that they would highly recommend the intervention to others. Significant improvements were observed in sleeping quality score (from 10.3 ± 3.6 to 5.4 ± 2.3, P < 0.01), insomnia index score (from 16.2 ± 3.2 to 6.8 ± 4.8, P < 0.01), fatigue score (from 60.3 ± 9.4 to 49.1 ± 8.6, P < 0.01), and SF-36 score (from 66.8 ± 7.7 to 80.9 ± 3.9, P < 0.01). Conclusions: Results of this single arm pilot study showed the feasibility and potential of "Six Healing Sounds" Qigong exercise for improving sleep and other symptoms in breast cancer survivors.

Previous studies have shown that Taijiquan and Qigong exercise can effectively reduce depression and anxiety in healthy and clinical populations. At present, only a few reviews have elaborated on the premise of different types of interventions, and there is still a lack of studies that systematically summarize the clinical evidence of patients with substance use disorders. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to assess the impact of the Taijiquan and Qigong exercise on the mood of individuals with substance use disorders (SUD); Articles were searched in Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and CNKI from their inception to the May 24, 2021. All randomized controlled trials (RCT) using Taijiquan and Qigong intervention were included. With the Review Manager software to determine the effect (standardized mean difference, SMD), subgroup analysis was conducted to intervention type, exercise time, and exercise duration. Nine studies totaling 823 participants were included in the study. Overall results indicated that Taijiquan and Qigong exercise had significant benefits in reducing depression (SMD = −0.35, 95% CI: −0.53 to −0.18, Z = 4.00, p < 0.01) and anxiety (SMD = −0.31, 95% CI: −0.50 to −0.11, Z = 3.06, p < 0.01) symptoms in SUD. When depression and anxiety were examined separately, subgroup analysis demonstrated that Taijiquan intervention (SMD = −0.45, 95% CI: −0.71 to −0.19, Z = 3.39, p < 0.01) and Qigong intervention (SMD = −0.28, 95% CI −0.51 to −0.04, Z = 2.33, p = 0.02),30–60 min exercise time (SMD = −0.41, 95% CI: −0.61 to −0.20, Z = 3.82, p < 0.01) and duration of 9–12 weeks (SMD = −0.57, 95% CI: −1.10 to −0.04, Z = 2.10, p = 0.04) more than 12 weeks (SMD = −0.28, 95% CI: −0.50 to −0.07, Z = 2.59, p = 0.01) could effectively alleviate the symptoms of depression. Meanwhile, Qigong intervention (SMD = −0.31, 95% CI: −0.52 to −0.10, Z = 2.85, p < 0.01), 30–60 min exercise time (SMD = −0.29, 95% CI: −0.53 to −0.04, Z = 2.28, p = 0.02), more than 60 min exercise time (SMD = −0.54, 95% CI: −1.06 to −0.02, Z = 2.05, p = 0.04), and duration of less than 9 weeks (SMD = −0.35, 95% CI: −0.68 to −0.02, Z = 2.07, p = 0.04) had positive effects on alleviating anxiety symptoms with SUD. Taijiquan and Qigong exercise could reduce levels of anxiety and depression in those with SUD. Considering the small number of included studies, more reliable RCTs are needed on this topic.

… , gait training, and Tai Chi that can improve gait by addressing body coordination and balance control, the Qigong exercise used in the current study involves almost no movement of …

… Forms of traditional Chinese medicine and meditation exercises such as acupuncture and QiGong … The effects of long-term QiGong exercise on brain function as manifested by computer …

Background: Non-motor symptoms such as sleep disturbance, cognitive decline, fatigue, anxiety, and depression in Parkinson’s disease (PD) impact quality of life. Increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in individuals with PD have been reported, which may contribute to non-motor symptoms. A mind-body exercise, Qigong, has demonstrated benefits across different medical conditions. However, a lack of evidence causes clinicians and patients to be uncertain about the effects of Qigong in individuals with PD. This study will examine the effects of Qigong on non-motor symptoms and inflammatory status in individuals with PD. Methods: Sixty individuals with PD will be recruited. Qigong and sham Qigong group (n = 30 for each) will receive a 12-week intervention. Participants will practice their assigned exercise at home (2×/day) and attend routinely group exercise meetings. Results: Clinical questionnaires and neuropsychological tests will measure non-motor symptoms including sleep quality (primary outcome). Biomarker assays will measure inflammatory status. A two-way mixed-design analysis of variance (ANOVA) will be utilized. Conclusions: This study may generate evidence for the benefits of Qigong on non-motor symptoms of PD and the effect on inflammatory status. Findings may lead to the development of a novel, safe, and cost-effective rehabilitation approach for individuals with PD.

… qigong compared with exercise therapy and no treatment. Elderly patients with chronic neck pain (>6 months) were randomly assigned to qigong or exercise … between the qigong group …

Physical exercises and relaxation have been found to be beneficial for depression. However, there is little evidence on the use of Qigong, a mind-body practice integrating gentle exercise and relaxation, in the management of depression. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the effects of Qigong on depression. The paper examined clinical trials measuring the effect of Qigong on depression within six large-scale medical research databases (PubMed, Medline, ProQuest, Science Direct, EMBASE, and PsycInfo) till October 2011. Key words “Qigong,” “depression,” and “mood” were used. Ten studies were identified as original randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies investigating the effect of Qigong on depression as primary (n = 2) or secondary outcome (n = 8). Four studies reported positive results of the Qigong treatment on depression; two reported that Qigong effect on depression was as effective as physical exercise. One study reported that Qigong was comparable to a conventional rehabilitation program, but the remaining three studies found no benefits of Qigong on depression. While the evidence suggests the potential effects of Qigong in the treatment of depression, the review of the literature shows inconclusive results. Further research using rigorous study designs is necessary to investigate the effectiveness of Qigong in depression.

OBJECTIVE This bibliometric study aimed to systematically and comprehensively summarize the volume, breadth and evidence for clinical research on Qigong. And this bibliometric analysis also can provide the evidence of this field. DESIGN Bibliometric analysis. METHODS All types of primary and secondary studies on humans were included: systematic reviews, randomized clinical trials, non-randomized controlled clinical studies, case series and case reports. Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Scientific Journal Database, Chinese Academic Conference Papers Database and Chinese Dissertation Database, PubMed and the Cochrane Library were searched from the date of inception to December 10, 2018. Bibliometric information, such as publication information, disease/condition, Qigong intervention and research results were extracted and analyzed. RESULTS A total of 886 clinical studies were identified: including 47 systematic reviews, 705 randomized clinical trials, 116 non-randomized controlled clinical studies, 12 case series and 6 case reports. The studies were conducted in 14 countries. The top 15 diseases/conditions studied were: diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, stroke, cervical spondylosis, lumbar disc herniation, insomnia, knee osteoarthritis, low back pain, and osteoporosis, Coronary heart disease, breast cancer, periarthritis of shoulder, depression, metabolic syndrome. Of the various Qigong exercises reported in these 886 clinical studies, Ba Duan Jin was the most frequently researched in 492 (55.5%) studies, followed by Health Qigong 107 (12.1%), Dao Yin Shu 85 (9.6%), Wu Qin Xi 67 (7.6%) and Yi Jin Jing 66 (7.4%). The most frequently used comparisons in randomized trials were maintaining normal way of life unchanged 149 (18.1%), the remaining controls included conventional treatment, mainly western medicine, Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, health education, psychological therapy, Yoga, Tai Chi and other non-drug therapy. The most frequently reported outcomes were physical function, quality of life, symptoms, pain and mental health indicators. Beneficial results from practicing Qigong were reported in 97% of studies. CONCLUSIONS Qigong research publications have been increasing gradually. Reports on study types, participants, Qigong Intervention, and outcomes are diverse and inconsistent. There is an urgent need to develop a set of reporting standards for various interventions of Qigong. Further trials of high methodological quality with sufficient sample size and real world studies are needed to verify the effects of Qigong in health and disease management.

… qigong in neck pain compared with exercise therapy and waiting list control. One RCT suggested that qigong is … There are few RCTs testing the effectiveness of internal qigong in the …

BACKGROUND This review aims to rate the quality of evidence and the strength of recommendations in high-quality systematic reviews of non-drug therapies. Hypertensive patients who are resistant or non-adherent to antihypertensive drugs may be easier to manage if they choose alternative non-drug therapies for hypertension, based on this review. METHODS P: Adults (>18 years), except pregnant women, with essential hypertension. I: Cupping, moxibustion, acupuncture, acupoint stimulation, yoga, meditation, tai chi, Qi gong, Chinese massage, massage, spinal manipulation, biofeedback, device-guided breathing therapy, aromatherapy, music therapy, and relaxation approaches. C: 1. No treatment. 2. Sham therapy. 3. Conventional treatment, including antihypertensive drugs and lifestyle modification (e.g., exercise). O: 1. Change in the incidence of cardiovascular death. 2. Change in the incidence of myocardial infarction. 3. Change in the incidence of stroke. 4. Change in blood pressure (BP). 5. Efficacy rate of BP lowering. 6. Adverse effects (review specific). S: Systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials, including meta-analyses and assessments of the methodological quality/risk of bias. INFORMATION SOURCES Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, Cochrane library, PubMed, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Chinese Scientific Journal Database were searched. The bibliographies of the included articles were also searched for relevant systematic reviews. GRADE criteria were used to rate the quality of evidence in systematic reviews considering 6 factors, including risk of bias. RESULTS This review ultimately included 13 systematic reviews of 14 non-drug therapies (acupuncture, wet cupping, Baduanjin, blood letting, auricular acupuncture, music, massage, Qi gong, moxibustion, relaxation therapies, biofeedback, device-guided breathing, yoga and tai chi) based on the inclusion criteria. The quality of evidence was generally low, and weak recommendations were given for most therapies except massage and acupuncture plus antihypertensive drug. Based on the analyzed evidence, massage and acupuncture plus antihypertensive drug could benefit people who want to lower their BP and do not have contraindications for massage and acupuncture plus antihypertensive drug. DISCUSSION/STRENGTH The GRADE approach makes this review a unique reference for people who are considering the grade of quality of evidence in systematic reviews, the balance of desirable and undesirable consequences and the strength of recommendations to decide which intervention should be used to reduce BP. LIMITATIONS Many non-drug therapies were excluded due to the low methodological quality of their systematic reviews, and only 14 therapies were evaluated in this review. As no patient-important outcomes were reviewed, surrogate outcomes were used to rate the strength of recommendations. This approach may cause a decrease in evidence quality according to GRADE, but we argue that this is appropriate in the context of this review.

Introduction. The effect of Qigong on psychological well-being is relatively unknown. This study systematically reviewed the effects of Qigong on anxiety, depression, and psychological well-being. Methods. Using fifteen studies published between 2001 and 2011, a systematic review was carried out and meta-analyses were performed on studies with appropriate homogeneity. The quality of the outcome measures was also assessed. Results. We categorized these studies into three groups based on the type of subjects involved as follows: (1) healthy subjects, (2) subjects with chronic illnesses, and (3) subjects with depression. Based on the heterogeneity assessment of available studies, meta-analyses were conducted in three studies of patients with type II diabetes in the second group, which suggested that Qigong was effective in reducing depression (ES = −0.29; 95% CI, −0.58–0.00) and anxiety (ES = −0.37; 95% CI, −0.66–0.08), as measured by Symptom Checklist 90, and in improving psychological well-being (ES = −0.58; 95% CI, −0.91–0.25) as measured by Diabetes Specific Quality of Life Scale. Overall, the quality of research methodology of existing studies was poor. Conclusions. Preliminary evidence suggests that Gigong may have positive effects on psychological well-being among patients with chronic illnesses. However the published studies generally had significant methodological limitations. More high-quality studies are needed.

… Qi Gong literature in a narrative manner. Consequently, during the discourse analysis some information regarding Qi Gong's … Qi Gong adjunctive therapy and a way of promoting and …

… In three further RCTs the comparisons made were: qigong combined with conventional therapy versus muscle relaxation combined with conventional therapy; qigong as a sole …

… Mind-body interventions, including Qigong, could be a viable alternative. We … of Qigong for health and wellbeing, and review potential mechanisms and existing evidence on Qigong as …

… The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in the effects of Qi therapy without touching … They received Qi therapy (external Qigong) without touching (QTN) or with touching (QTT). …

Radiotherapy may lead to side effects that undermine patients' quality of life (QOL). Although mind‐body practices like qigong appear to improve QOL in cancer survivors, little is known about their benefits for patients who are receiving radiotherapy. Thus, in the current randomized controlled trial, the authors examined the efficacy of a qigong intervention on QOL in women with breast cancer during and after treatment.

Objective This study was conducted to compare the therapeutic effects of health qigong (HQG) with conventional pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) exercise among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods A total of 132 patients with confirmed diagnosis of COPD but no serious comorbidities were randomly allocated to the HQG group (n = 51), PR group (n = 32), or medical treatment group (n = 35). The HQG group received 1 week of HQG training under the supervision of professional coaches, and were then encouraged to participate in a peer-led weekly practice group thrice a week, lasting 1 hour each time, for 6 months. The conventional PR group received the same amount of professional coaching on breathing and aerobic exercises, and peer-led walking or ball game groups. The medical treatment group only received health education on self-exercise. Baseline data were taken before randomization, and outcomes were ascertained at the 6-month follow-up by blinded assessors. Results Overall, 118 patients with complete data were recruited into the final analysis. Irrespective of disease stages, both HQG and PR groups showed improving trends across 6-minute walk test and quality of life scores, while the medical treatment group demonstrated either no improvements or some deteriorations. When comparing HQG with PR, HQG appeared to have better effects on decreasing the frequency of exacerbation for patients with GOLD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease) stage I and maintaining a stable tumor necrosis factor-alpha level for patients of GOLD stage II. Conclusion This study solidifies the concept that both HQG and PR produce positive effects on subjective symptoms and functions among COPD patients, and also provided evidence that HQG can induce additional effects compared to conventional PR.

… The effects of "White Ball" Qigong on burnout symptoms are measurable by the MBI. The results are compatible with the thesis that this type of qigong is an effective tool for the self-…

… blockage, and supplying the affected areas with healthy and balanced qi. The qigong therapy used in this study has precisely this goal. Although the physical nature of qi is unknown, a …

Abstract Qigong, including medical, meditative and martial arts qigong, comprises 3 modalities: mindfulness training, breathing manipulation and body posture. Qi of qi-gong is the vital energy of the body, and gong is the training skill of generating stimuli to work on and with qi. However, little attention has been paid on the mediators and biological mechanisms of qigong. The purpose of this article is to propose a theoretical framework to support the hypothesis that the integrative skill of mindfulness-led breathing (MLB) with accordant body posture (a critical component) generates mechanical stimuli (mediators) to produce changes on meridian network (mechanisms). Of note, recent studies have proposed that the meridian qi is biologically and anatomically consistent with the extracellular fluid within interstitial spaces and is the major source of lymph. MLB recruits primary and accessory respiratory muscles and produces pressure gradients in the entire body. Experimental data suggest that pressure gradients generated by active respiratory muscle contraction is required to support an efficient lymphatic drainage. MLB-contracted respiratory muscles (yin) and accordant extending body postures (yang) coincide with the yin-yang theory creating tensional forces to distend the joints and stretch the meridian network. Emergent advances in mechanobiology of connective tissues underpin the substantial effects of mechanical stretch in regulating tissue homeostasis. Therefore, this article claims that mechanical stimuli generated by qigong bring about the balancing of qi-blood and regulation of meridian network in addition to emotional regulation, which are all pivotal to the integrity of mind-body health.

Background: The purpose of this discussion is to explore the theory, evidence base, and practice of Qigong for individuals with cancer. Questions addressed are: What is qigong? How does it work? What evidence exists supporting its practice in integrative oncology? What barriers to wide-spread programming access exist? Methods: Sources for this discussion include a review of scholarly texts, the Internet, PubMed, field observations, and expert opinion. Results: Qigong is a gentle, mind/body exercise integral within Chinese medicine. Theoretical foundations include Chinese medicine energy theory, psychoneuroimmunology, the relaxation response, the meditation effect, and epigenetics. Research supports positive effects on quality of life (QOL), fatigue, immune function and cortisol levels, and cognition for individuals with cancer. There is indirect, scientific evidence suggesting that qigong practice may positively influence cancer prevention and survival. No one Qigong exercise regimen has been established as superior. Effective protocols do have common elements: slow mindful exercise, easy to learn, breath regulation, meditation, emphasis on relaxation, and energy cultivation including mental intent and self-massage. Conclusions: Regular practice of Qigong exercise therapy has the potential to improve cancer-related QOL and is indirectly linked to cancer prevention and survival. Wide-spread access to quality Qigong in cancer care programming may be challenged by the availability of existing programming and work force capacity.

Qi Gong is a mind-and-body intervention to improve health and relieve disease conditions, which has been practiced for thousands of years. Lack of quantitative measures to monitor the quality and progress of Qi Gong practice has hindered the high-quality study to evaluate its health benefits. To develop such quantitative measures, vital sign changes in Qi Gong meditation practice of a single individual were monitored for 5 years by wearable devices. This retrospective and exploratory analysis revealed significant changes in blood oxygen saturation, pulse rate, respiration rate, and perfusion index in response to Qi Gong practice and physiological adaptation to its long-term training. Among the physiological changes in vital signs, a physiological state with a significant 2-fold increase in pulse-respiration rate ratio was detected during Qi Gong meditation while the ratios were maintained at 4 under resting, sleeping, and mild cycling conditions. This is an inaugural report of a five-year longitudinal observation of this kind. Once validated in a well-designed cohort study, these non-invasive and easily obtained vital signs may be used as biomarkers to assess the adherence to breathing control during Qi Gong practice and can be applied to quantify the quality of Qi Gong practice in clinical trials with Qi Gong intervention.

… meditative postures and flowing, rhythmic movements incorporating breath regulation, mindful meditation (… article, the term Qigong therapy includes internal Qigong as well as traditional …

BACKGROUND Older adults are increasingly lonely and at risk for hypertension. Endogenous oxytocin levels are associated with lowering blood pressure (BP), suggesting value in increasing oxytocin. Regular practice of Tai Chi improves BP and mood; we explored a single session of Tai Chi Easy (TCE) with older adults and feasibility of measuring oxytocin as a key biomarker. METHOD In a single-arm pre-post design pilot study, 21 older adults (age 55-80) with mild-moderate hypertension practiced a single session (50-minutes) TCE. BP, psychosocial measures, and saliva samples were collected pre/post to examine feasibility of acute measures of oxytocin and explore effect sizes of outcomes. Participants (N=21; 19% Latinx, 76.2% female, mean age 66.76). RESULTS BP systolic: 138.43 to 134.86; diastolic 78.48 to 78.00 (p >.05; Cohen's d -0.23; -.08 respectively). Total Mood Disturbance (TMD) and Connection (CN) improved [TMD mean pre 41.891 (SD=19.60) to post 35.00 (SD=10.21), p = 0.01; Cohen's d -0.67); CN mean 7.85 (SD=2.01) to post 9.05 (SD=1.00), p= 0.01; Cohen's d 0.70]. Baseline oxytocin was positively correlated with baseline loneliness (N=14, r=.599); pre/post oxytocin changes were negatively correlated with baseline loneliness (N=14, r=-.585). BP decrease was associated with characteristics of the intervention: "flow" (coef=.58; N=17) and meditative/breath focus (coef=-1.78; N=17). DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION Medium to large effect sizes indicating change in mood and connection were found for this single session intervention. Knowing that Tai Chi improves BP when practiced over time, this TCE intervention shows promise for planning a fully powered, randomized controlled study of BP, mood and perceptions of connection in hypertensive older adults. Feasibility of assessing acute salivary oxytocin is less promising. Increase in oxytocin levels occurred for those less lonely, but declined for lonelier participants. With different responses based on baseline loneliness scores, no mean change in oxytocin levels was found. Seemingly unstable levels (possibly related to interaction with study staff) suggests the need for further testing in more controlled study designs. Finally, BP associations with meditative/breath focus and flow could be further explored in future study designs addressing mediation.

Introduction Previous studies have demonstrated acute changes in brain activity that occur during shamanic journeying—an ancient spiritual practice used for physical, psychological, and spiritual healing. However, the effect of shamanic journeying on other physiological measures, such as heart rate variability, remains unknown. We investigated changes in heart rate variability (HRV) during sessions of shamanic journeying (n = 14) in a single subject, as well as during Qigong meditation (n = 8) in the same individual as a positive control. Methods Electrocardiogram (ECG) signals were recorded and compared between various events during the shamanic journeys (e.g., rest, drumming, shapeshift, post-shapeshift), as well as during periods of rest and Qigong meditation. ECG signals were first visualized using the Electrocardiomatrix (ECM) software and further quantified using the following HRV measures: beats per minute (BPM), average RR interval (AVRR), standard deviation of RR interval (SDRR), root mean square of successive RR interval differences (RMSSD), and the percentage of successive RR intervals that differ by more than 50 milliseconds (pNN50). Segments > 65 s were evaluated for frequency measures, including the absolute power of the low (LF: 0.04–0.15 Hz) and high (HF: 0.15–0.4 Hz) frequency bands and the ratio of LF to HF power (LF/HF ratio). Results The start of shamanic drumming decreased BPM and increased AVRR (compared to rest), as well as increased SDRR, RMSSD, pNN50, LF power, and LF/HF ratio. Upon shapeshifting, BPM, SDRR, and RMSSD all increased and AVRR decreased. BPM remained elevated (and AVRR remained decreased) during the first post-shapeshift period, while the LF/HF ratio decreased. The LF/HF ratio decreased further in the second post-shapeshift period, while HF power and pNN50 were increased compared to drumming initiation. Qigong meditation also increased SDRR, RMSSD, pNN50, LF power, HF power, and the LF/HF ratio compared to rest. Changes in SDRR, LF power, and LF/HF ratio during Qigong meditation were greater than those induced by drumming initiation, while changes in BPM and AVRR were greater during drumming initiation. Discussion These data suggest that shamanic journeying involves dynamic, widespread changes in cardiac function and physiology that can be tracked visually in the ECM and captured by ultra-short-term HRV.

Yoga and qigong are ancient mind–body practices used in the East for thousands of years to promote inner peace and mental clarity. Both share breathing techniques and slow movements and are being used as alternative/complementary approaches to the management of disease, especially chronic problems with no effective conventional treatments. However, information comparing the health benefits of both approaches is scarce, and the choice between yoga or qigong practice may only depend on patients’ preferences or practice availability. The aim of the present paper was to overview yoga and qigong use for health benefits under different pathological conditions. Yoga and qigong seem to have similar effects, which might be expected, since both are similar mind–body approaches with the same concept of vital life-force energy and the practice of meditative movements. Problematic research issues within the literature on yoga and qigong are the small sample sizes, use of different styles, significant variance in practice duration and frequency, short duration of intervention effects, and the usage of a non-active control group, thus emphasizing the need for further high-quality randomized trials. Studies comparing yoga and qigong are warranted in order to assess differences/similarities between the two approaches for health benefits.

… state of the cerebral cortex during Qigong meditation with flash visual evoked potentials (F-… never practiced Qigong before made up the third group and served as control. Eleven Qigong …

… Qigong. The gentle fluid movements of qigong had a positive impact on several students. … I think innately I am most drawn to qigong. I love the fluidity and feel of doing it, the sensuous …

… This study provides information on differences in preference for type of meditation. As the benefits of meditation accrue over time, selecting a method that motivates sustained practice is …

Examining factors that support resilience is critical to ameliorating the impact of child maltreatment. This paper evaluated existing evidence for the effects of “Eastern Arts” (ie, meditation, …

… taught and practiced hatha yoga, meditation, and the body scan (a … qigong, an ancient Chinese practice for cultivating health. Students chose a practice, such as meditation, yoga, qigong…

… health-related outcomes across different populations, there has not been a comprehensive review examining its potential impact of Baduanjin for health, … in Baduanjin for health benefits, …

Background The physical and mental health of college students tends to continuously decline around the world, therefore, it is important to improve their health during college period. Baduanjin, a traditional Chinese exercise which combines movements with breath and mind, may be one of the selectable effective exercises. However, the effect of Baduanjin exercise on college students has not been established. In this study, we systematically assessed the effectiveness and safety of Baduanjin exercise on physical and mental health of college students by a rigorous randomized, parallel-controlled design. Methods A total of 222 college students from Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were recruited and randomly allocated at an equal ratio into control or Baduanjin training. Participants in control group were informed to maintain their original activity habit, and those in Baduanjin exercise group received a 12-week Baduanjin exercise training with a frequency of 1 hour per day and 5 days per week on the basis of their original activity habit. The physical and psychological outcomes, including lumbar muscle strength, lower limb proprioception function, physical fitness, as well as self-reported symptom intensity, stress, self-esteem, mood, quality of life, quality of sleep, and adverse events, were evaluated at baseline, 13 weeks (at the end of 12-week intervention), and 25 weeks (after the 12-week follow-up period). Intention-to-treat analysis was performed for the above outcomes. Results Compared with controls, significant improvements in Baduanjin exercise group at the end of 12-week intervention period were found on lower limb proprioception function (the rate of average trace error on right lower limb (%): control 23.50±5.50, Baduanjin 21.92±6.54, P=0.004; the rate of average trace error on left lower limb (%): control 22.32±6.62, Baduanjin 20.63±4.62, P=0.046), cardiorespiratory endurance (step test index: control 47.66±5.94, Baduanjin 50.07±9.30, P=0.025), flexibility (control 14.35±7.26cm, Baduanjin 15.39±6.43cm, P=0.009) and explosive force of lower limb (standing long jump test (m): control 1.77±0.24, Baduanjin 1.79±0.22, P=0.005 for adjustment baseline) in physical outcomes, and attention (Schulte Grid test (second): control 210.4±51.15, Baduanjin 192.4±47.14, P=0.034) in mental outcome. Lumbar muscle strength in Baduanjin group had been moderately enhanced but no significant difference compared to controls. No significant changes in other physical and mental outcomes, including vital capacity, blood pressure, heart rate, hand grip force, self-symptom intensity, stress, self-efficacy, quality of life, and quality of sleep, were found between groups. No adverse event was reported during the study period. Conclusion Regular Baduanjin exercise had an advantage for college students on improvement of lower limb proprioception, enhance of cardiorespiratory endurance, flexibility, explosive force of lower limb and attention, compared with usual exercise. Trial Registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR-TRC-13003329 http://www.chictr.org

PURPOSE This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Baduanjin exercise, which is a traditional Chinese Qigong exercise, in breast cancer survivors to assess its efficacy for physical and psychological rehabilitation. METHODS The study was a single-blinded randomized controlled trial. Eighty-six subjects were randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 46) or control (n = 40) groups. The intervention group received Baduanjin exercise 3 days/week at hospital and another 4 days/week at home for 6 months, whereas the control group were requested to maintain their original physical activity. Outcomes included body mass index (BMI), heart rate variability, lung capacity, arm circumference, shoulder range of motion, step test index, anxiety, depression, and quality of life (QOL). RESULTS After 6 months of intervention, heart rate variability and shoulder range of motion were significantly improved in the Baduanjin group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). There were also significant improvements in depression, QOL, and four QOL dimension scores (physical well-being, social well-being, functional well-being, and breast cancer subscale) (P < 0.05). However, there were no differences in the BMI, lung capacity, arm circumference, step test index, anxiety, and the emotional well-being QOL dimension scores. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that Baduanjin is an effective intervention for improving physical and psychological health outcomes among breast cancer survivors, which is worth recommending and implementing by oncology nurses for breast cancer survivors during their long rehabilitation journeys.

This study performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the health effects of Baduanjin exercise on adults aged 65 years and older. Chinese and English databases were electronically searched using search terms related to the PICO model from inception through June 2021. The study quality assessment and meta-analysis were conducted using the PEDro scale and RevMan 5.4 software. Eleven included Chinese studies, published between 2015 and 2021, recruited participants from the mainland of China. The aggregated results showed significant benefits of Baduanjin on physical function, walking ability, balance, and anxiety. A long-term Baduanjin intervention could also improve quality of life and reduce falls and pain. Baduanjin appears to have the potential to improve the health of older adults, but conclusions are limited due to the lack of rigorous and robust studies within and outside of mainland China. Larger, well-designed RCTs are needed to confirm these findings.

To date, a growing number of clinical studies have demonstrated the safety and health benefits from Baduanjin intervention. Based on this, our objective is to systematically retrieve and summarize the clinical studies on Baduanjin, with a view to providing more evidence-based evidence in support of the application of Baduanjin for healthcare, and to identify the shortcomings of existing research and provide feasibility suggest for further clinical research. Both four English language and four Chinese language electronic databases were used to search articles related to Baduanjin during 2000–2019. SPSS 22.0 software was used to analyze the data, and the risk of bias tool in the RevMan 5.3.5 software was used to evaluate the methodological quality of randomized controlled trials. A total of 810 publications were identified, including 43 (5.3%) systematic reviews, 614 (75.8%) randomized controlled trials, 66 (8.1%) nonrandomized controlled clinical studies, 84 (10.4%) case series, and 3 (0.4%) case reports. The top 10 diseases/conditions included diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, low back pain, neck pain, stroke, coronary heart disease, cognitive impairment, insomnia, and osteoporosis or osteopenia. The style of State General Administration of Sport of China in 2003 was the most commonly used version of Baduanjin, and Baduanjin was practiced with an average of 35 minutes, 1 or 2 times a day, 3–5 days per week, and a 18-week average duration. It is also worth noting that there were no serious adverse events related to Baduanjin intervention. Most studies were small sample size research, and the methodological quality of randomized controlled trials is generally low. The clinical studies of Baduanjin have a substantial quantity and evidence base. However, there are significant differences among different studies in the specific intervention measures such as style, intensity, duration, learning, and practice methods, which need to be further standardized and unified. Further high-quality designed and reporting studies are recommended to further validate the clinical benefits of Baduanjin.

Background and purpose: Around the world, college students physical and mental health is deteriorating. Finding practical ways to enhance college students health is crucial. One of the traditional Chinese Qigong exercises is Baduanjin, which is possibly one of the most efficient workout techniques out there. However, it is unknown how Baduanjin practice may affect college students health. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Qigong Baduanjin on the physical and mental health of female college freshmen. Materials and methods: A total of 78 female college students were recruited and randomly divided into Baduanjin group or control group. Participants in the control group were told to keep their original habits of life and exercise. The Baduanjin exercise group received 12 weeks of Baduanjin exercise, 3 days a week and 1 hour a day. After the 12 week randomized controlled trial, the physical and mental health indexes of female students in Baduanjin group and control group were evaluated, including physical shape, physical function, physical fitness and scl-90 self-assessment scale. Results: Compared with the control group, at the end of the 12 week intervention, the weight, body mass index, diastolic blood pressure, systolic blood pressure, somatization score, obsessive-compulsive disorder score, interpersonal sensitivity score, depression score, anxiety score and phobic anxiety score of Baduanjin group decreased significantly. Compared with the control group, the vital capacity, vital capacity index, Stand test, Genchi test, Stand on 1 leg with closed eyes, standing bends and squats of the Baduanjin group have been significantly improved. Conclusion: Compared with usual activities, Qigong Baduanjin exercise has advantages in improving female college students body shape (weight and body mass index), cardiovascular and respiratory lung function, flexibility, balance ability, muscle endurance and mental health.

Objective . To investigate the effects of practicing Baduanjin Qigong on different health outcomes. Methods . Six electronic databases were used for literature search through entering the following key words: Baduanjin Qigong, quality of life, sleep quality, and health‐related outcomes. Results . Nineteen randomized controlled trials were used for meta‐analysis. The aggregated results from this systematic review have shown significant benefits in favour of Baduanjin Qigong on quality of life (SMD, −0.75; 95% CI −1.26 to −0.24; P = 0.004), sleep quality (SMD, −0.55; 95% CI −0.97 to −0.12; P = 0.01), balance (SMD, −0.94; 95% CI −1.59 to 0.30; P = 0.004), handgrip strength (SMD, −0.69; 95% CI −1.2 to −0.19; P = 0.007), trunk flexibility (SMD, −0.66; 95% CI −1.13 to −0.19; P = 0.006), systolic (SMD, −0.60; 95% CI −0.94 to −0.27; P = 0.0004) and diastolic blood pressure (SMD, −0.46; 95% CI −0.73 to −0.20; P = 0.0005), and resting heart rate (SMD, −0.87; 95% CI −1.47 to −0.27; P = 0.005). The aggregated results of meta‐analyses examining the effect of Baduanjin Qigong on leg power, cardiopulmonary endurance, and pulmonary function remain unclear because of a small number of studies. Conclusions . The aggregated results from this systematic review show that Baduanjin Qigong practice is beneficial for quality of life, sleep quality, balance, handgrip strength, trunk flexibility, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and resting heart rate. Further studies are necessary to confirm the effects of Baduanjin Qigong on leg power, cardiopulmonary endurance, and pulmonary function (e.g., vital capacity), while considering a long‐term follow‐up. Registration Number . This trial is registered with International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO): CRD42016036966 .

Purpose This study aimed to systematically evaluate the effects of Baduanjin exercise on mental health, sleep quality and fatigue among university students, explore the influence of intervention parameters on the outcomes, and assess the methodological quality of relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). In doing so, it addresses the current evidence gap regarding this non-pharmacological intervention, which remains fragmented despite the limitations of conventional mental health approaches. Methods Systematic searches were conducted in both English and Chinese databases to identify RCTs comparing Baduanjin intervention with routine care measures, covering all literature published up to January 15, 2026. Statistical analyses were performed using Review Manager 5.4 and Stata/SE 15.1, and subgroup analyses were conducted to explore how variations in intervention parameters influenced the measured outcomes. Results A total of 36 RCTs involving 3,233 university students were included in the systematic review, of which 35 studies with 2,846 participants were eligible for meta-analysis. Baduanjin practice significantly improved overall mental health (Symptom Checklist-90, SCL-90: 95% CI: −0.27 to −0.10, p < 0.0001), alleviated depressive symptoms (Self-Rating Depression Scale, SDS: 95% CI: −5.67 to −3.00, p < 0.0001), anxiety (Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, SAS: 95% CI: −6.30 to −1.73, p = 0.0006), reduced negative mood states (Profile of Mood States, POMS: 95% CI: −10.73 to −3.57, p < 0.0001), perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale/Chinese Perceived Stress Scale, PSS/CPSS: 95% CI: −0.77 to −0.08, p = 0.02), and fatigue (Fatigue Scale-14, FS-14: 95% CI: −1.55 to −0.46, p < 0.0001), while enhancing sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI: 95% CI: −3.41 to −1.74, p < 0.0001). Subgroup analyses suggested practicing Baduanjin three sessions per week may be most beneficial for general mental health (SCL-90), and a duration of 12 weeks or less may be more effective for reducing depressive symptoms (SDS) based on current evidence. Follow-up assessment indicated that improvements in sleep and stress were not sustained after intervention cessation. The overall methodological quality of included studies was moderate. Conclusion Regular Baduanjin practice effectively improves mental health, sleep quality, and subjective fatigue among university students. A frequency of a three-times-weekly schedule and a duration of up to 12 weeks appears to be associated with more favorable effects on selected outcomes. Given its low cost, ease of standardization, and scalability, Baduanjin may be considered as a potentially valuable complementary intervention for college mental health promotion. Future research should enhance methodological rigor to validate these findings and investigate the long-term maintenance mechanisms of therapeutic effects.

Background Cognitive impairment in older adults poses a growing burden on global healthcare systems, especially in resource-limited communities. Baduanjin exercise, a low-cost traditional Chinese mind–body exercise, demonstrates considerable potential for assisting older adults in managing cognitive impairment. However, there is no consensus regarding its efficacy. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of Baduanjin exercise in ameliorating cognitive impairment in older adults. Methods Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published through January 30, 2025, were searched in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Chinese databases (CSTJ, CNKI, Wanfang). Two reviewers independently conducted trial selection, assessed methodological quality using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool, and extracted data in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Seven RCTs involving 539 community-dwelling older adults met the inclusion criteria. Results Baduanjin exercise significantly improved global cognitive function [mean difference (MD) = 2.15; 95% CI, 1.53 to 2.76; p < 0.00001], memory (standardized mean difference = 0.59; 95% CI, 0.38 to 0.80; p < 0.00001), executive function (SMD = 0.26; 95% CI, 0.07 to 0.44; p = 0.007), and physical health (MD = −0.86; 95% CI, −0.26 to −0.46; p < 0.00001). No included study reported adverse effects related to Baduanjin exercise. Conclusion These findings indicate that Baduanjin exercise can effectively improve cognitive impairment in older adults. Nevertheless, further rigorously designed RCTs are required to confirm these findings. Systematic review registration International Platform of Registered Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (INPLASY) under the registration number INPLASY202460007, https://inplasy.com/inplasy-2024-6-0007/.

Background: Baduanjin exercise is a traditional Chinese Qigong exercise. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Baduanjin exercise on the quality of life and psychological status of postoperative patients with breast cancer. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted. Eight databases were searched from inception to December 15, 2021, restricting the language to English and Chinese. RevMan5.3 software was employed for data analysis. This study was registered in PROSPERO, number CRD 42020222132. Results: A total of 7 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 450 postoperative breast cancer patients with or without Baduanjin exercise were collected. Compared with the group without Baduanjin, those who practiced Baduanjin showed significant improvement in quality of life (WMD = 5.70, 95% CI 3.11-8.29, P < .0001). Subgroup analysis showed significant improvement in physical (WMD = 1.83, 95% CI 1.13-2.53, P < .00001) and functional well-being (WMD = 1.58, 95% CI 0.77-2.39, P = .0001), which were measured by the functional assessment of cancer therapy-breast (FACT-B). Subgroup analysis also showed that role-physical (WMD = 11.49, 95% CI 8.86-14.13, P < .00001) and vitality (WMD = 8.58, 95% CI 5.60-11.56, P < .00001) were significantly increased, as measured by a 36-item Short Form survey (SF-36). In terms of psychological health, Baduanjin exercise reduced patients’ anxiety (WMD = −8.02, 95% CI −9.27 to −6.78, P < .00001) and depression (WMD = −4.45, 95% CI −5.62 to −3.28, P < .00001). Conclusions: Baduanjin is an effective exercise, which can significantly improve the quality of life and psychological health of breast cancer patients after operation.

Background: Baduanjin, a traditional Chinese mind-body exercise, is widely practiced to improve overall health in both elderly individuals and a growing number of young enthusiasts. Appropriate thermoregulation has been proposed as a potential physiological mechanism underlying the multiple health benefits of Baduanjin. Infrared thermography is a noninvasive functional imaging technique that provides a visual and noninvasive means of reflecting local metabolic activity and blood perfusion. However, comprehensive evidence regarding the effect of Baduanjin training on human body temperature, an objective and visual metric, remains limited. Therefore, this meta-analysis systematically evaluated the effects of Baduanjin exercise on human temperature, as quantified by infrared thermal imaging. Methods: A comprehensive search was performed in 5 databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, and VIP Information Chinese Journal Service Platform, using PICO-based search terms until October 2025. Primary outcomes were mean skin temperature at trunk acupoints, mean skin temperature over visceral projection areas, and mean skin temperature of the trunk and limbs. Study quality was assessed using the modified Jadad scale, and meta-analysis was conducted with RevMan 5.4. Results: A total of 8 randomized controlled trials were included, published between 2017 and 2024. These articles involved a total of 377 participants from mainland China, including 194 in the Baduanjin group and 183 in the control group, with mean ages ranging from 19.8 to 32.2 years across studies. Compared with the control groups (routine lifestyle or traditional calisthenics exercise), Baduanjin training significantly increased the average skin temperature at trunk acupoints (mean difference [MD] = 0.74°C, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.32, 1.16], P < .01, I2 = 74%), improved the mean skin temperature over the visceral projection areas (MD = 1.01°C, 95% CI [0.62, 1.41], P < .001, I2 = 0%), and improved skin temperature of the trunk and limbs (MD = 0.44°C, 95% CI [0.29, 0.59], P < .0001, I2 = 68%). Conclusion: This meta-analysis found that Baduanjin training may have a beneficial effect on improving body temperature measured by infrared thermography. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution due to the limited number of included studies and nearly exclusive research in mainland China. Further large-scale, high-quality randomized controlled trials are essential to verify these preliminary observations.

Introduction Qi-deficiency constitution is a common constitution among college students and has already affected their normal life and study. Baduanjin promotes the circulation of Qi and Blood, and replenishes vital energy, which is of great significance for improving the improving Qi deficiency constitution of college students. This study aims to explore the clinical effects of a 10-week practice of Baduanjin exercise on the sleep quality and emotional state of college students with Qi-deficiency constitution. Methods 37 college students with Qi-deficiency constitution and sleep quality problems were randomly divided into 18 cases in the control group and 19 cases in the training group. We compared the Qi-deficiency constitution conversion score, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) of the two groups before and after the intervention, and analyzed the correlation between the difference of the Qi-deficiency constitution conversion score and the difference of the total score of the PSQI as well as the clinical effectiveness of the two groups before and after the intervention. Results Before the intervention, the two groups were comparable in terms of Qi-deficiency constitution conversion score, PSQI, SAS and SDS (P > 0.05). After the intervention, there was no significant difference in Qi-deficiency constitution conversion score, PSQI, SAS and SDS in the control group (P > 0.05); the training group's Qi-deficiency constitution conversion score, PSQI, SAS and SDS were lower than that of the group before the intervention (P < 0.05) and lower than that of the control group during the same period (P < 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between the difference between the Qi-deficiency constitution conversion score and the difference between the total PSQI score before and after the intervention in the training group (P = 0.013). After the intervention, the total effective rate of the training group was higher than the control group (P < 0.001). Conclusion Baduanjin can effectively improve the sleep quality, Qi-deficiency constitution and negative emotions of depression and anxiety in college students with Qi-deficiency constitution, and it is positively correlated with the improvement of Qi-deficiency constitution in terms of the degree of sleep improvement. Clinical Trial Registration: identifier ITMCTR2025000103.

Background: Numerous studies have suggested that Baduanjin, a traditional Chinese exercise, can alleviate fatigue symptoms in patients with various illnesses. The aim of this review was to evaluate the efficacy of Baduanjin in reducing fatigue symptoms. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using several databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Medline, China Biology Medicine disc, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang, from inception to June 2023. Relevant studies reporting on the effects of Baduanjin on fatigue symptoms were included. A random-effects meta-analysis model with standardized mean differences was used to estimate the treatment effects. Moderator analyses were conducted using continuous variables and meta-regression. This review was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (identifier CRD42023411532). Grading of recommendations, assessment, development and evaluations framework was used to assess the certainty of evidence. Results: Ten randomized controlled trials with patients diagnosed with 9 different diseases were included in the meta-analysis. The Baduanjin intervention groups showed significant improvements in total fatigue intensity (standard mean difference = −0.49, 95% confidence interval = −0.69 to −0.30, P = .000; I2 = 56%, P = .009). The statistically significant differences in the subgroup analyses, including intervention durations, age of participants, fatigue types, and practice location, remained unchanged. Meta-regression showed that practice place might have significant effect on the results. The certainty of the evidence was moderate for participants 55-year younger or in hospital training. However, fatigue, different groups, participants 55-year or older, training at home, and different fatigue types had lower evidence certainty. Conclusion: Baduanjin can effectively alleviate fatigue symptoms with relatively flexible requirements. However, studies investigating the same disease types and including non-Chinese populations are scarce. Therefore, further studies with long-term interventions, larger sample sizes, and well-designed methodologies are warranted.

… -being, mental health, anxiety, and depression of the corroborates. Baduanjin may considerably … Compared to conventional workouts that focus on improving physical health, baduanjin …

… to contribute robust evidence to inform healthcare professionals and policymakers about the potential benefits of incorporating Baduanjin exercise into the management and prevention …

Qigong is a Chinese traditional practice that has been developed for thousands of years. One of its purposes is to improve and sustain health. Research has also shown that Qigong is effective in improving many health outcomes. Many research gaps exist, especially concerning study design and investigations into the physiological and biological effects of Qigong practice. To fill in the knowledge void, this review focuses on the state of qigong research regarding its physical, physiological, and biological effects. Our findings suggest that far-infrared, bio magnetic, and neurological applications are common measurements in understanding the physical effects of Qigong. Heart rate variations, pulse, and blood pressure changes are also commonly used in measuring physiological effects of Qigong. Last, biological effects of Qigong may include biochemical parameters, glucose, and immune parameters, among others. More methodological rigorous research exploring the particular physiological and biological pathway of Qigong practice and health outcomes is needed. Future research should also closely examine the feasibility and adaptability of Qigong therapy while evaluating the effects of Qigong versus other forms of mind-body exercise. Last, researchers, health providers and community leaders should investigate and improve the physical and psychosocial health and health behaviors of minority populations through culturally appropriate and adaptable exercises like Qigong.

… In this study it was possible to study both physiological and psychological effects over a set period. It is suggested that there continues to be a need to monitor and assess the impact of …

Eight-Section Brocades and Yijin Jing consist of some routine movements that are too difficult for frail elders. A novel health qigong protocol was developed and its effectiveness for frail elders was examined using a randomized clinical trial (RCT). An expert panel performed functional anatomy analysis and safety field test prior to the RCT. The experimental group (n = 61, 83 ± 6 yr) was given a 12-week qigong exercise program, while the comparison group (n = 55, 84 ± 6 yr) participated in a newspaper reading program with the same duration and frequency. Pre-, mid-, post-, and follow-up assessments were conducted. At 12 weeks, the qigong group had significant improvements in thinking operations (F = 4.05, P = .02) and significant reduction of resting heart rate (F = 3.14, P = .045) as compared to the newspaper reading group. A trend of improvements in grip strength and a decreasing trend of depression levels were observed among the qigong group. Significant perceived improvements in physical health (F = 13.01, P = .001), activities of daily living (F = 5.32, P = .03), and overall health status (F = 15.26, P = .0001) were found. There are improvements in some aspects of psychosocial, cognitive, physical, and physiological domains. Clinical applications and possibilities for further research are discussed.

… They compared the effects of practicing or not practicing qigong for patients with malignant … Machi (1994) examined physiological changes before and during qigong practice of several …

Qigong is an ancient form of health maintenance, which is part of Traditional China Medicine. Numerous beneficial mental and physical effects have been classically ascribed to this traditional psychosomatic method. The purpose of this work has been to assess the effects of Taoist qigong practice on several hormonal parameters of the Hipotalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis and specific measures of psychological well-being in healthy subjects. Forty-three healthy volunteers participated in the study, of whom 22 were randomly allocated to the experimental group, and 21 were assigned to the control group. Experimental participants underwent a qigong training program for one month. Blood samples for the quantification of hormonal parameters, and several instruments to assess anxiety and depression symptoms as well as subjective sleep quality, were obtained before and after the program. Statistically significant differences were found between the experimental and control groups, with the experimental group showing lower blood levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). This study shows that Taoist qigong is a psychosomatic method able to exert a modulatory action on ACTH levels in healthy subjects. We consider the need to continue exploring the psychobiological modulation of this qigong method and its possible repercussion for human health care.

… In older people, the effects of Qi-gong practice on HPA activity regulation have so far been poorly investigated. In the current pilot study, we sought to investigate, in a population of …

… that Qigong is more physiologically comparable to … the physiological changes are due to the controlled frequency of breath per Se and/or the actual elicitation of the practice of Qi gong …

… physiological mechanism, the neuroendocrine hypothesis for the antidepressive effects of qigong … that the study compared the intervention effects of qigong exercise with a non-exercise …

Qigong is a method adopted by many people for their health maintenance and therapy at present. But up to this day, there is still no detailed conclusion as to the physiological state of Qigong or how to define it. This study tries to explore and provide a definition for Qigong state. The subject applied Neiyang Gong to enter Qigong state. We used a multifunctional physiological recorder to record the difference of various physiological parameters before and after entering Qigong state. The results showed that when the subject entered Qigong, the alpha brain wave at the left forehead of the cerebrum was concentrated. Temperature of the left palm rose extensively. There were large fluctuations in the electromyogram (EMG) base line of the left hand dorsum. Finger pulse amplitude (FPA) pulse appeared very frequent and the amplitude increased. Skin conductance level (SCL), increased evidently. These physiological parameter variations showed that the subject is under a certain emotional state. Also, exploration of the three characteristics of Qigong showed that Qigong should be a kind of emotional state: we can see that there were several kinds of reactionary methods in the behavioral reactions of Qigong, some people can enter Qigong state in an instant, and after having learnt certain methods and having entered Qigong state, it becomes easier to enter Qigong emotional state continuingly. By understanding the mechanical system of Qigong, we are able to develop a Qigong method that is more effective to physical health maintenance.

Background Physical and mental health problems are becoming more serious among college students due to lifestyle changes and increased academic stress. Qigong exercise has been regarded as a potentially effective intervention to improve the physical and mental health of college students. Methods Eleven databases were searched from their respective inception dates to April 2022. Relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Physical and psychological conditions, including limb muscle strength, flexibility, cardiorespiratory endurance, vital capacity, blood pressure and heart rate, as well as depression, anxiety and mood, were evaluated. The risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane Collaboration tool. Results Sixteen randomized controlled trials were included in the meta-analysis. Significant improvements in cardiorespiratory endurance (MD = 3.83, 95% CI: 0.99 to 6.67, P  = 0.008) and flexibility (MD = 3.01, 95% CI: 1.21 to 4.81, P  = 0.001) were observed. We also observed that Qigong exercise significantly reduced depression and anxiety symptoms (SMD=-0.89, 95% CI: -1.17 to -0.61, P  < 0.00001; SMD=-0.78, 95% CI: -1.31 to -0.25, P  = 0.004). Nevertheless, no significant effects on muscle strength, vital capacity, blood pressure, heart rate or mood were found. Conclusion Qigong exercise was advantageous for college students in terms of improving flexibility and cardiorespiratory endurance and alleviating depression and anxiety to some extent. However, due to the limited number of eligible trials and the low methodological quality, more well-designed RCTs are needed in the future.

… In this study, we investigated the effects of LBP and Healthy Qigong exercise on levels of plasma TC, TG, HDL-c and LDL-c from 120 male subjects (Table 3). It can be observed that TC, …

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the sustaining effects of Tai chi Qigong in improving the physiological health for COPD patients at sixth month. DESIGN A randomized controlled trial. Subjects were in three randomly assigned groups: Tai chi Qigong group, exercise group, and control group. SETTING The 206 subjects were recruited from five general outpatient clinics. INTERVENTIONS Tai chi Qigong group completed a 3-month Tai chi Qigong program. Exercise group practiced breathing and walking as an exercise. Control group received usual care. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Primary outcomes included six-minute walking distance and lung functions. Secondary outcomes were dyspnea and fatigue levels, number of exacerbations and hospital admissions. RESULTS Tai chi Qigong group showed a steady improvement in exercise capacity (P<.001) from baseline to the sixth month. The mean walking distance increased from 298 to 349 meters (+17%). No significant changes were noted in the other two groups. Tai chi Qigong group also showed improvement in lung functions (P<.001). Mean forced expiratory volume in 1s increased from .89 to .99l (+11%). No significant change was noted in the exercise group. Deterioration was found in the control group, with mean volume decreased from .89 to .84l (-5.67%). Significant decreased in the number of exacerbations was observed in the Tai chi Qigong group. No changes in dyspnea and fatigue levels were noted among the three groups. CONCLUSIONS Tai chi Qigong has sustaining effects in improving the physiological health and is a useful and appropriate exercise for COPD patients.

… This article attempts to review extant evidence and suggests possible neurobiological pathways of the anti-depressive effect of qigong based on the neurotransmitter, neuroendocrine, …

This article provides a conceptual history (Begriffsgeschichte) of the use of the word yoga in the context of both scientific, therapeutic, and religious approaches to Chinese cultural history, with a focus on somatic practices commonly associated with Daoist traditions. Under the heading Chinese yoga, the author investigates how historical practices such as neidan, daoyin, kaimen, zhanzhuang, gusha, fangzhongshu as well as new therapeutic innovations are referred to as types of yoga such as Taoist yoga, meridian yoga, yin yoga, and sexual yoga. The article traces the origins of variations of the concept of Chinese yoga to the 1920s and 1930s in publications by Richard Wilhelm and C. G. Jung, Cary F. Baynes, and Arthur Waley, follows its reception in the hippie milieu of the 1960s and 1970s, and demonstrates how references to various forms of Chinese yoga have been, and are still being used in both academic research, and therapeutic and new religious milieus.

The images presented here are taken from the Emei shan tiangang zhixue fa 峨眉山天罡指穴法 (Mt Emei’s Big Dipper1 Finger-point Method) by Zhou Qianchuan 周 潜川 (1905–71), from Sichuan province. Zhou was a renowned physician operating in an arcane and mystical tradition.2 The book describes 28 different hand positions for manipulating Qi 氣 in others. However the book has had a troubled history and does not exist in its complete original form. Though f irst published in 1962, the original text with any accompanying images was destroyed. The book’s author, Zhou Qianchuan, came to be regarded as a miscreant for his work in regard to Qigong and religious medicine, subjects that came to be regarded as mixin 迷 信 (outlawed superstition). This chapter offers a window on to the 20th-century history of a secret medico-religious tradition through the biography of a major protagonist and the reconstruction of one of his key works by his disciples and others who were close to him.

The purpose of this research is to determine the effects of Academic Stress (EA) in the educational spaces of students in the first semesters of the degree in Rehabilitation Human Acupuncture (AHR), which not only affects students, but also anyone who has a transaction role in the face of a stressful factor, understanding that in individuality it will generate a dependent variable between the interpretation before the stimulus or situation with the individual's resources, which in the first instance, are psychological in a process of evaluation of requirements or demands to know if that stimulus or situation is stressful, subsequently the result of the resource vs. threat variables together with the interdependencies of unpredictability, uncontrollability and constancy of stress. Objective: Intervene in the reduction of stress, as well as in the improvement of cognitive aspects through the practice of Qi gong (QG). Research Methodology: A non-experimental cross-sectional study with a comparative descriptive scope was carried out to measure and compare variables and categories of academic stress of the participants. The already validated scale of academic stressors was used ( Cabanach, Souto-Gestal and Franco (2016) . It consists of 54 items and is used in university students, the responses are Likert type of five points (1=never, 2=almost never , 3=sometimes, 4=almost always and always=5). Results: The cognitive aspects were evaluated and we obtained that the QG helps the educational and learning process, as well as the perception of work and educational dynamics. In the following graph we see how to feel that sometimes the perception of never improves and rarely what tells us that the practice of QG improves, the perception and the sensation of overload of work, this is due to the fact that it generates relaxation and better oxygenation. The cognitive aspects were evaluated and we obtained that the QG helps the educational and learning process, as well as the perception before work and the educational dynamics. As we can see in the following graph, we see how to feel that sometimes it improves the perception never and rarely what tells us that the practice of QG improves the perception and feeling of overload of work, this is because it generates relaxation and better oxygenation.

… The first is posture based approaches, including daoyin 导引 taolu 套路 qigong 气功 and the … Further, he argues that techniques of internal alchemy (neidan 内丹) deliberately enhance …

This article discusses the reception of Chinese qigong in a Western context by focusing on the learning and experiencing of qigong in Norway. Drawing on ethnographic material from fieldwork among participants of a style of qigong referred to as Biyun medical qigong, I in particular explore the variety of body–mind states that Norwegian qigong students experience. I have differentiated five “stages” of Biyun practice. Using these stages as a framework, I demonstrate the gradual progression in the learning of qigong. “Body,” “concentration,” and qi (“life energy”) are all important constitutive dimensions in the practice, but as the learning progresses, qi becomes more and more prominent. Drawing on a definition of the body as “learning to be affected” and “learning to affect” (Despret, Body Soc 10: 111–134, 2004; Latour, Body Soc 10: 205–229, 2004), I suggest that qigong may be perceived as a practice that, at its core, involves learning to be affected by qi as well as to affect qi.

… After several evolutions, ‘Neidan’becomes the practice which regards the human body as a … Mastery of Qigong When Yang takes dominance in consciousness, Mastery of Qigong is yet …

… regulation” (tiao xin), “body regulation” (tiao shen), and “breath regulation” (tiao xi) frameworks of qigong… These three main disciplines aim at achieving mind–body unification by clearing …

A contemporary understanding of Chinese Medicine (CM) regards CM diagnosis as a functional vegetative state that may be treated by vegetative reflex therapies such as acupuncture. Within this context, traditional mind-body exercises such as Qigong can be understood as an attempt to enhance physiological proprioception, by combining a special state of “awareness” with posture, movement, and breath control. We have formerly trained young auditing flutists in “White Ball” Qigong to minimize anxiety-induced cold hands and lower anxiety-induced heart rate. Functional changes occurred 2–5 min after training and were observed over the whole training program, allowing the children to control their symptoms. In our current work, we report that warm fingers and calm hearts could be induced by the children even without Qigong exercises. Thus, these positive changes once induced and “conditioned” vegetatively were stable after weeks of training. This may show the mechanism by which Qigong acts as a therapeutic measure in disease: positive vegetative pathways may be activated instead of dysfunctional functional patterns. The positive vegetative patterns then may be available in critical stressful situations. Qigong exercise programs may therefore be understood as an ancient vegetative biofeedback exercise inducing positive vegetative functions which are added to the individual reactive repertoire.

… of TCM, a mind–body intervention and putative energy therapy.Qigong differs from t’ai chi … , as a therapy involving components of mind, body, and breath regulation, has potential as a …

… -regulation at week 15 (p = 0.04). Within the qigong group, changes were found in attention regulation (p = 0.03), emotional awareness (p = 0.04), self-regulation (p = 0.01), and body …

Background: Stroke, a medical condition that causes physical disability and mental health problems, impacts negatively on quality of life. Post-stroke rehabilitation is critical to restoring quality of life in these patients. Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of a mind–body interactive qigong intervention on the physical and mental aspects of quality of life, considering bio-physiological and mental covariates in subacute stroke inpatients. Methods: A randomized controlled trial with repeated measures design was used. A total of 68 participants were recruited from the medical and rehabilitation wards at a teaching hospital in northern Taiwan and then randomly assigned either to the Chan-Chuang qigong group, which received standard care plus a 10-day mind–body interactive exercise program, or to the control group, which received standard care only. Data were collected using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Short Form-12, stroke-related neurologic deficit, muscular strength, heart rate variability and fatigue at three time points: pre-intervention, halfway through the intervention (day 5) and on the final day of the intervention (day 10). Results: The results of the mixed-effect model analysis showed that the qigong group had a significantly higher quality of life score at day 10 (p<0.05) than the control group. Among the covariates, neurologic deficit (p=0.04), muscle strength (p=0.04), low frequency to high frequency ratio (p=0.02) and anxiety (p=0.04) were significantly associated with changes in quality of life. Conversely, heart rate, heart rate variability (standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals, low frequency and high frequency), fatigue and depression were not significantly associated with change in quality of life (p >0.05). Conclusions: This study supports the potential benefits of a 10-day mind–body interactive exercise (Chan-Chuang qigong) program for subacute stroke inpatients and provides information that may be useful in planning adjunctive rehabilitative care for stroke inpatients.

Introduction Mind–body therapies (MBTs) have demonstrated beneficial effects on anxiety, depression, and sleep quality in college students. However, few studies have compared the efficacy of different types of MBTs. Therefore, we conducted this study to compare and rank the relative effects of various MBTs on these outcomes. Methods A systematic search was conducted across seven electronic databases (inception-July 8, 2025) for randomized controlled trials investigating the effects of MBTs on depression, anxiety and sleep quality among college students. Literature selection was performed in accordance with the PICOS framework, and data extraction was carried out independently by two reviewers. Risk of bias was assessed via the Cochrane risk of bias tool, version 2 (RoB 2.0) and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) framework. Both pairwise and network meta-analyses were performed via Stata software, which generated forest, network, and funnel plots. Furthermore, we adopted the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) to evaluate and rank the intervention effects of different MBTs on depression, anxiety and sleep quality among college students. Results Twenty-seven eligible studies with 2,664 participants were included. This network meta-analysis revealed significant differences in the impact of MBTs on sleep quality among college students compared with the control group. Baduanjin [SMD = −1.29, 95% CrI (−2.67, −0.02)] and Qigong [SMD = −2.24, 95% CrI (−3.85, −0.44)] demonstrated the most notable effects. Additionally, for anxiety, yoga [SMD = −3.72, 95% CrI (−6.26, −1.47)] was significantly more effective than the control. Furthermore, for depression, Qigong [SMD = −3.9, 95% CrI (−5.76, −1.37)] was significantly better than the control group. Furthermore, Qigong was significantly more effective than yoga [SMD = 3.78, 95% CrI (0.96, 5.99)] and Baduanjin [SMD = 3.35, 95% CrI (0.03, 5.27)]. The SUCRA ranking identified Qigong (SUCRA = 90.5%) as the best intervention for sleep quality, yoga (SUCRA = 89.0%) for anxiety, and Qigong (SUCRA = 95.0%) for depression. Conclusion The current evidence indicates that Qigong is the optimal intervention for alleviating depression and improving sleep quality, whereas yoga is the most effective intervention for alleviating anxiety. Nevertheless, due to the limited number of studies included, further research is needed to enhance the reliability of the findings. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251104941, identifier (CRD420251104941).

Objective: Chronic stress affects the immune system via the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and autonomic system. Chronic inflammation is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, cancer onset and progression, susceptibility to infection, and cognitive impairment. Mind–body interventions (MBIs) could affect the immune and neuroendocrine systems, and we aimed to assess the correlations among these systems through a meta-analysis. Methods: RCTs were identified by searching three databases: PubMed, Embase, and Scopus. Of the 1697 studies identified, 89 were included in this study. Risk of bias was examined using the Cochrane risk-of-bias assessment tool. Data were pooled using a random-effects model, and SMDs were calculated. I2 statistics and Egger’s test were used to assess the significance of the asymmetry. Influence diagnostics were used to assess whether pooled effects were disproportionately dependent on any single study. The trim-and-fill method was applied to all identified asymmetric instances. Meta-regression was used to examine the moderating effect of MBI efficacy on biomarkers. Results: MBIs generally decreased the levels of inflammatory factors, such as the CRP, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1, IL-8, IL-17, ESR, and cortisol, and increased IL-10, IFN-γ, IL-1ra, BDNF, and secretory IgA. In a subgroup analysis of the CNS and cancer, qigong and yoga showed increased BDNF and IL-6, respectively. Notably, IL-10 was increased in inflammatory diseases, and IFN-γ was increased in viral infections. Conclusions: This study revealed MBIs decrease inflammatory cytokine and increase anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and immune-activating factors. These results suggest the MBIs including gentle physical exercise may be beneficial for neuropsychiatric disorders or tumors. Prospero registration number: CRD42024507646.

To evaluate the effects of a mind-body exercise, qigong Baduanjin, on sleep disturbances in women experiencing intimate partner violence and explore the mediating role of depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and inflammation in producing the effects. A subgroup of a parent randomized controlled trial was randomized for a 22-week Baduanjin intervention (n = 94) or wait-list control (n = 92). Questionnaires, including the General Sleep Disturbance Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, and Beck Depression Inventory version II, were administered at baseline, posttraining (6 weeks), and postintervention (22 weeks), and blood samples were collected to assess tumor necrosis factor and interleukin 6 levels at baseline and postintervention only. Of the 186 participants, 170 completed the study. Results indicate that the total sleep disturbance scores for the intervention group were significantly lower than those for the wait-list control group at week 6 (difference = −7.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], −13.63 to −2.30; P = .006) and week 22 (difference = −7.17; 95% CI, −12.58 to −1.76; P = .01). Mediation analysis showed a statistically significant indirect effect of the intervention on sleep improvement through reducing depressive symptoms (β = 2.58, 95% CI, 0.69 to 5.09), while the mediating effects of perceived stress and inflammation were not significant. Qigong Baduanjin can be recommended for women who experience intimate partner violence and report sleep disturbances. More research is needed to understand the clinical significance of the observed sleep improvements. Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov; Name: Qigong Intervention Program for Abused Chinese Women; URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02060123; Identifier: NCT02060123. Cheung DST, Chau PH, Yeung W-F, Deng W, Hong AWL, Tiwari AFY. Assessing the effect of a mind-body exercise, qigong Baduanjin, on sleep disturbance among women experiencing intimate partner violence and possible mediating factors: a randomized-controlled trial. J Clin Sleep Med. 2021;17(5):993–1003.

Stress-related disorders have become increasingly prevalent due to modern-day lifestyle challenges, resulting in significant physiological and psychological health consequences. Mind-body practices (MBPs) such as meditation, yoga, tai chi, qigong

Bereavement may bring negative impacts on the mind, body, and spiritual well-being of grieving persons. Some bereaved persons with chronic fatigue syndrome- (CFS-) illness experience a dual burden of distress. This study investigated the effects of bereavement on CFS-like illness by comparing bereaved and nonbereaved participants. It also adopted a random group design to investigate the effectiveness of Qigong on improving the well-being of bereaved participants. The Qigong intervention comprised 10 group sessions delivered twice a week for 5 weeks and home-practice for at least three times a week lasting 15–30 minutes each. The participants' fatigue, anxiety, and depression, quality of life (QoL), and spiritual well-being were measured at baseline and 3 months after treatment. The bereaved participants experienced significantly greater mental fatigue (16.09 versus 14.44, p = 0.017) and lower physical QoL (34.02 versus 37.17, p = 0.011) than their nonbereaved counterparts. After 3 months, the mental fatigue (−8 versus −4, p = 0.010) and physical fatigue (−10 versus −5, p = 0.007) experienced by intervention group had declined significantly, and improvements on their spirituality (14 versus −2, p = 0.013) and psychological QoL (8.91 versus 0.69, p = 0.002) scores exceeded those of the control group.

Background Qigong is a mind-body intervention focusing on interoceptive awareness that appears to be a promising approach in anorexia nervosa (AN). In 2008, as part of our multidimensional treatment program for adolescent inpatients with AN, we began a weekly qigong workshop that turned out to be popular among our adolescent patients. Moreover psychiatrists perceived clinical benefits that deserved further exploration. Methods and findings A qualitative study therefore sought to obtain a deeper understanding of how young patients with severe AN experience qigong and to determine the incentives and barriers to adherence to qigong, to understanding its meaning, and to applying it in other contexts. Data were collected through 16 individual semi-structured face-to-face interviews and analyzed with the interpretative phenomenological analysis method. Eleven themes emerged from the analysis, categorized in 3 superordinate themes describing the incentives and barriers related to the patients themselves (individual dimension), to others (relational dimension), and to the setting (organizational dimension). Individual dimensions associated with AN (such as excessive exercise and mind-body cleavage) may curb adherence, whereas relational and organizational dimensions appear to provide incentives to join the activity in the first place but may also limit its post-discharge continuation. Once barriers are overcome, patients reported positive effects: satisfaction associated with relaxation and with the experience of mind-body integration. Conclusions Qigong appears to be an interesting therapeutic tool that may potentiate psychotherapy and contribute to the recovery process of patients with AN. Further analysis of the best time window for initiating qigong and of its place in overall management might help to overcome some of the barriers, limit the risks, and maximize its benefits.

… Qigong) practitioners, with healthy subjects as controls. … perform Qigong, yoga, t’ai chi, or any other type of mind–body … was significantly increased in Qigong practitioners. Some of the …

Background: Up to 80% of cancer patients experience insomnia that significantly affects their quality of life. This pilot qualitative study investigated the feasibility and effects of a 3-week Qigong (mind-body exercise) intervention with a 1-week follow-up in cancer patients experiencing insomnia. Methods: Cancer patients with insomnia who had completed radiotherapy or chemotherapy treatment and/or were at least 8 weeks post-cancer-related surgery were recruited. Primary outcomes were feasibility outcomes, which included recruitment, retention, attendance, completion of assessment, adverse events and participant feedback via a questionnaire and focus group/individual interview. Secondary outcomes on insomnia severity and sleep quality were measured using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) at baseline, mid, post-intervention and follow-up. Results: Seven participants were recruited and two withdrew from the study. The participant retention rate was 71.4% with an overall attendance rate of more than 84% and participants were able to complete all required assessments. An adverse event relating to the worsening of existing musculoskeletal condition was reported. Qualitative analysis of participant feedback identified 4 emerging themes: (1) experience from Qigong intervention; (2) class preferences; (3) barriers to participation; and (4) recommendation for improvement. Participants reported increased relaxation, improved sleep and energy level, better upper body flexibility and reduced stress. Both ISI and PSQI scores improved significantly (P < .05). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that it is feasible to employ the current clinical trial design using Qigong intervention on insomnia in cancer patients. Preliminary data suggest that the intervention may improve sleep outcomes, however, these findings need to be confirmed by future robust randomized controlled trials. Trial registration: The trial was registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12618001670268) http://www.ANZCTR.org.au/ACTRN12618001670268.aspxon10October2018.

Background: Effective preventative health interventions are essential to maintain well-being among healthcare professionals and the public, especially during times of health crises. Several studies have suggested that Tai Chi and Qigong (TQ) have positive impacts on the immune system and its response to inflammation. The aim of this review is to evaluate the current evidence of the effects of TQ on these parameters. Methods: Electronic searches were conducted on databases (Medline, PubMed, Embase and ScienceDirect). Searches were performed using the following keywords: “Tai Chi or Qigong” and “immune system, immune function, immunity, Immun*, inflammation and cytokines”. Studies published as full-text randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in English were included. Estimates of change in the levels of immune cells and inflammatory biomarkers were pooled using a random-effects meta-analysis where randomised comparisons were available for TQ versus active controls and TQ versus non-active controls. Results: Nineteen RCTs were selected for review with a total of 1686 participants and a range of 32 to 252 participants within the studies. Overall, a random-effects meta-analysis found that, compared with control conditions, TQ has a significant small effect of increasing the levels of immune cells (SMD, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.13 to 0.43, p = 0.00), I2 = 45%, but not a significant effect on reducing the levels of inflammation (SMD, −0.15; 95% CI, −0.39 to 0.09, p = 0.21), I2 = 85%, as measured by the systemic inflammation biomarker C-reactive protein (CRP) and cell mediated biomarker cytokines. This difference in results is due to the bidirectional regulation of cytokines. An overall risk of bias assessment found three RCTs with a low risk of bias, six RCTs with some concerns of bias, and ten RCTs with a high risk of bias. Conclusions: Current evidence indicates that practising TQ has a physiologic impact on immune system functioning and inflammatory responses. Rigorous studies are needed to guide clinical guidelines and harness the power of TQ to promote health and wellbeing.

Background Mindfulness and qigong are 2 distinct forms of mind-body practice that have been well-received by cancer survivors. Although there is evidence supporting the effectiveness of mindfulness or qigong in promoting wellness of cancer survivors, little is known about the differential benefits of these common forms of mind-body practices among survivors. Objective To compare the potential biopsychosocial-spiritual impacts of mindfulness and Baduanjin (BDJ) qigong on colorectal cancer survivors. Methods Sixty cancer survivors who participated in a mindfulness intervention (n = 38) and BDJ qigong (n = 22) intervention were invited to provide qualitative feedback for their experiences. Content analyses were conducted to identify emerging themes from the data, and χ2 tests were conducted to compare the responses of the mindfulness and BDJ groups in the major categories. Results Both practices positively influenced psychosocial wellness. The practice of BDJ qigong led to more prominent improvements in physical well-being, whereas mindfulness worked best in enhancing spiritual growth and intrapersonal connectedness. Conclusions Survivors of colorectal cancer who are looking for ways to enhance their vitality and rejuvenate their physical body may find the practice of BDJ helpful, whereas survivors who are looking for spiritual comfort or growth may consider practicing mindfulness as an entry point toward mind-body unity. Implications for Practice Mindfulness and BDJ may be helpful for survivors of colorectal cancer to improve their holistic wellness. Oncology nurses can consider prescription of mindfulness and/or BDJ for patients recovering from colorectal cancer.

Objective This study employed a network meta-analysis to compare the efficacy of different Traditional Chinese Medicine mind-body exercises and determine their relative efficacy rankings in stroke rehabilitation. Methods A comprehensive search of nine databases was conducted, covering studies from inception to February 2025. Participants included stroke patients (age ≥18 years). Interventions evaluated were four Traditional Chinese movement therapies: Tai Ji, Ba Duan Jin, Yi Jin Jing, and Wu Qin Xi. Primary outcomes included objective measures of upper limb function, lower limb function, balance function, and activities of daily living. Results A total of 46 randomized controlled trials involving 3,096 stroke patients were included. Network meta-analysis revealed: (1) Upper limb function: Ba Duan Jin ranked highest (SMD = 1.33, 95% CI = 0.80–1.86). (2) Lower limb function: Ba Duan Jin was the most effective (SMD = 1.49, 95% CI = 0.97–2.01). (3) Balance function: Wu Qin Xi demonstrated the best efficacy (SMD = 1.56, 95% CI = 0.45–2.67). (4) Activities of daily living: Wu Qin Xi was the top-ranked intervention (SMD = 2.34, 95% CI = 0.91–3.76). While Tai Ji and Yi Jin Jing were not the optimal choices, they still exhibited significant therapeutic benefits compared to conventional therapies. Conclusion Traditional Chinese Medicine mind-body exercises significantly improve limb function and activities of daily living in stroke patients. Ba Duan Jin is recommended for upper and lower limb rehabilitation, while Wu Qin Xi is optimal for activities of daily living restoration and balance recovery. These findings provide clinicians with evidence-based guidance for selecting interventions tailored to specific functional deficits. Systematic review registration PROSPERO, identifier (CRD42025642353).