Effects Of Qigong Research Articles

Exploring the Effects of Qigong, Tai Chi, and Yoga on Fatigue, Mental Health, and Sleep Quality in Chronic Fatigue and Post-COVID Syndromes: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

Background/Objectives: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and post-COVID syndrome (PCS) pose a substantial socioeconomic burden. The aim of this systematic review was to assess current evidence regarding the effect of the most popular forms of movement-based mindful exercises, i.e., qigong, tai chi, and yoga, on fatigue and associated symptoms in CFS and PCS. Methods: CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to October 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) where qigong, tai chi, or yoga were compared with waitlist, no intervention, or active controls were included. Independent reviewers participated in data extraction, and evaluated risk of bias, spin of information, completeness of intervention description, and certainty of the evidence (GRADE). Meta-analyses were conducted. The primary outcome was the level of fatigue. Secondary measures were the severity of anxiety and depressive symptoms and sleep quality. Results were expressed as mean difference (MD) or standardized mean difference (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: Thirteen RCTs with 661 participants were included, with most studies presenting a moderate or high risk of bias. Mindful exercises were more effective than control interventions to alleviate fatigue: SMD (95%CI) = -0.44 (-0.63 to -0.25), I2 = 48%, p < 0.0001. Positive effects were also observed for secondary outcomes. The certainty of the evidence was low or very low. Conclusions: Qigong, tai chi, and yoga may be effective to reduce fatigue and improve anxiety, depression, and sleep quality in adults with CFS or PCS. However, serious methodological concerns limit the clinical applicability of these findings.

Efficacy and long-term effects of the intervention of Zhan Zhuang Qigong on Pisa syndrome in Parkinson's disease: the study protocol for a randomised control trial.

Pisa syndrome (PS) is a postural abnormality that frequently manifests in various neurological disorders. In recent years, the dangers associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) and PS have been increasingly acknowledged, leading to heightened research efforts directed toward the treatment of PS. Nevertheless, the underlying causes of PS remain complex, and no clinically effective treatments have been established. While several studies have demonstrated the significant effects of Qigong in treating PD, there is currently no evidence to support the efficacy of Qigong in the treatment of PS. To assess the immediate and long-term effects of Zhan Zhuang Qigong on PS in participants with PD using a rigorous randomised, parallel-control design with assignment concealment and evaluator-blinding methodologies. 60 PD participants meeting the inclusion criteria will be recruited and randomly assigned to one of two groups: conventional treatment (n=30) or Zhan Zhuang Qigong (n=30). The conventional treatment group will receive standard medications and physical therapy. The Zhan Zhuang Qigong group will receive conventional medicine plus 30 min of Zhan Zhuang Qigong practiced five times per week. The long-term effects of Qigong on PS will be evaluated after 6 months and 1 year of follow-up. Assessment tools will include the NeuroPostureApp, the B-PHY(A model of a balance testing system) balance check training system, the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale and the Parkinson's Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire, which will measure total camptocormia, upper hump degree, Pisa angles, plantar pressure distribution, motor function and quality of life in participants with PD. The local ethics committee approved this study (approval number: 2023-K068). The committee will oversee the study throughout its duration and will be notified of any protocol modifications. The results of the study will be disseminated through publication in an international journal or presentation at a conference. ChiCTR2400079696.

Effects of different traditional Chinese exercise for knee osteoarthritis patients: A network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

The most popular traditional Chinese exercise (TCE) techniques include Tai Chi, Yijinjing, Baduanjin, Wuqinxi, and Qigong. Exercise is advised as a primary treatment for knee osteoarthritis (KOA) according to clinical standards. According to several studies, TCE may be an effective way to help people with KOA manage their pain, stiffness, and physical function. Which TCE therapy is the most effective and whose particular usefulness is still debatable. The network meta-analysis (NMA) method is used in this study to evaluate and compare the effects of various TCE therapies on KOA patients. We will search PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, the Chinese Scientific Journal Database (VIP), and the China Biology Medical Literature Database (CBM) for randomized controlled trials reporting TCE therapy for KOA patients published before October 25, 2023. The Stata 16.0 program will compare the effectiveness of various TCE therapies on KOA patients using conventional pairwise and NMA. The final 29 studies included 15 articles on Tai Chi, 7 articles on Baduanjin, 4 articles on Wuqinxi, and 3 articles on Yijinjing. Tai Chi was first for the effect sizes of VAS scores, WOMAC pain scores, and WOMAC available scores, while Baduanjin was ranked top for WOMAC stiffness scores. Research should continue to be conducted on the effect of Qigong on KOA intervention. This NMA will help determine the best TCE treatment for KOA and offer evidence-based bias for clinical decision-making.

A pilot randomized clinical trial examining the effects of Qigong on inflammatory status and sleep quality in people with Parkinson's disease

BackgroundNeuroinflammation contributes to degeneration of neurons in people with Parkinson's disease (PD). The concentrations of inflammatory cytokines, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, are often increased in people with PD and are associated with various non-motor symptoms. Qigong exercise is a mind-body practice which has been used as a rehabilitation intervention for people with PD. A previous study showed a strong association between sleep quality and inflammatory status. This study investigated the effect of Qigong on inflammatory status in people with PD and explored potential relationships between inflammatory status and sleep quality in this population. MethodsThe study was a randomized controlled trial. A total of 17 participants completed the 12-week intervention (Qigong (n = 8), sham Qigong (n = 9)). Questionnaires were utilized to assess non-motor symptoms, including sleep quality. Inflammatory cytokines were measured by a high sensitivity antibody-based multiplex assay. ResultsAfter the 12-week intervention, a decreasing trend in the concentrations of IL-1β and IL-6 was found in the Qigong group. Moderate to strong correlations were found between changes in IL-1β concentrations and sleep quality. ConclusionInflammation is an important aspect of PD. This study explored the inflammatory status after a mind-body exercise. Further studies need to extend our findings to confirm the effect of Qigong in people with PD.

Combating With COPD by QiGong Physical and Mental Exercise.

Physical activity levels of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are low due to the symptoms of COPD. The patients diagnosed with COPD are headed for complementary and alternative treatments to reduce the COPD symptoms, facilitate the treatment, and increase their physical activity. One of these treatments is QiGong, which is not yet common in our country. QiGong is a type of exercise based on ancient Chinese medicine, and mainly consists of active and passive exercises. These exercises open energy channels in the body, and thus prevent and/or heal diseases by establishing energy balance in the body through meditation, breath control, and bodily exercises. According to a literature review abroad, there are a small number of scientific studies related the therapeutic effect of QiGong exercises on symptom control, anxiety, reduction of stress and depression, increase in physical activity and quality of life, and the development of lung function of patients with COPD. By considering the educative role of nurses, it is important that the nurse has adequate knowledge of the treatment and care of patients with COPD. Therefore, this review is compiled to be informative about the effects of QiGong in the treatment of COPD, and assistance to subsequent studies.

Effects of Mind-Body Qigong Exercise on Overall Health, Fatigue/Sleep, and Cognition in Older Chinese Immigrants in the US: An Intervention Study with Control.

Culturally relevant exercises may help improve health and address disparities faced by older immigrants due to language and cultural barriers. Few studies have focused on such exercise interventions among older Chinese immigrants at US daycare centers. We conducted a 10-week nonrandomized controlled trial in older Chinese immigrants in Philadelphia, US. The intervention group practiced Chinese Qigong (Baduanjin) 5 days a week guided by trained research assistants and video instructions. The control group maintained their usual daily activities. We collected self-report assessments on overall health, sleep, and fatigue and implemented two computerized cognitive tests measuring psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) and memory twice, preintervention and postintervention. Repeated measures general linear model (GLM) and paired samples t-tests were used for data analyses. Eighty-eight older adults (Qigong, n = 53; control, n = 35) with an average age of 78.13 (SD = 5.05) were included. Groups showed no significant differences at baseline evaluation. After the 10-week exercise, the intervention group showed significant improvements in overall health (p=0.032), fatigue (p < 0.001), and cognitive functions including memory (p=0.01), response speed (p=0.002), and response time (p=0.012) on the PVT, as well as marginally significant benefits in sleep (p=0.058). Between-group comparisons identified significant group-by-time interactions in health (p=0.024), sleep (p=0.004), fatigue (p=0.004), and memory (p=0.004). We revealed significant positive effects of Qigong in older Chinese immigrants across multiple health domains. Findings highlight the potential of a culturally relevant exercise in addressing health disparities.

Effects of 3-month Qigong exercise on heart rate variability and respiration in anxious college students.

This longitudinal study aimed to investigate the effects of Qigong on the anxiety state, heart rate variability (HRV), and breathing of anxious college students. A total of 37 individuals (18-25 years old) were randomly allocated to the control (n = 19) and intervention (n = 18) groups. Qigong interventions were conducted five times weekly for 12 weeks, with each session lasting 60 min. Hamilton Anxiety Scale, Fatigue Scale 14, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and 36-item Short Form Survey, HRV, and respiration data were collected before and after the 3-month intervention. Individuals who participated in the three-month Qigong exercise intervention showed a significant reduction in anxiety, particularly mental anxiety (p < 0.05). Subjects in the intervention group presented a decrease in skin temperature (p < 0.05) and an increase in blood volume pulsation (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, HRV exhibited a significant increase in the standard deviation of interbeat interval before and after comparisons (p < 0.05) and between the two groups (p = 0.039) and a reduction in the normalized low-frequency power after the intervention. Moreover, the intervention group experienced increased abdominal breathing depth and abdominal breathing per minute (p < 0.05). These findings indicate that Qigong is an effective mind-body exercise strategy for relieving anxiety. HRV and breathing were improved accordingly among college students after the completion of the 3-month Qigong program.

Effect of Qigong exercise on non-motor function and life quality in stroke patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Qigong have a positive impact on the rehabilitation of motor function in stroke survivors, but there is no consensus on the effectiveness of Qigong on activities of daily living (ADL), neurological function, and life quality for patients with stroke. We aimed to quantitatively evaluate the effect of Qigong on non-motor function and life quality in stroke patients. Electronic literature searches were performed for randomized controlled trials on this topic using PubMed and China National Knowledge Infrastructure through August 2022. The primary outcome measures were the Barthel Index, neurological deficit score (NDS), and Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale (SSQLS). A random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence interval (CI). RevMan 5.4 software was used for meta-analysis. A total of 16 eligible randomized controlled trials with 1253 stroke patients were included. As indicated by the Barthel Index, Qigong was associated with the improvement in daily living activities of stroke patients (MD: 10.72, 95% CI: 5.88∼15.57). It was also found that Qigong was helpful in improving life quality (SSQLS, MD: 14.41, 95% CI: 5.56∼23.25) and reducing NDSs among them (NDS, MD: -4.56, 95% CI: -6.99∼-2.14). After sensitivity analysis, the effect of Qigong on these functions and life quality did not change significantly. By subgroup analysis of intervention duration, we found that long-term intervention (MD: 11.83, 95% CI: 2.80∼20.86) had a better effect on the improvement of daily living activities than short-term intervention (MD: 10.07, 95% CI: 6.15∼14.00) (pfor subgroup differences =.001). Pooled results suggested that Qigong had beneficial effects on ADL, neurological function, and life quality in stroke patients, which may provide an option for their rehabilitation.

Efficacy of mind-body therapies for sleep disturbance in patients with early-stage cancer: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

To evaluate and compare the efficacy of different mind-body therapies (MBTs) for sleep disturbance in patients with early-stage cancer. Randomised controlled trials that included patients (aged ≥18years) with early stage cancer who underwent MBTs (mindfulness, hypnosis, relaxation, yoga, and qigong) were searched in the CINAHL via the EBSCO Host, Cochrane Library, Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Scopus databases, from the date of database inception to October 2022. The outcomes were subjective sleep disturbance and objective sleep efficiency. Network meta-analysis (NMA) and comparative effects ranking were performed using STATA (v14.0; STATACorp, College Station, TX, USA). Forty-seven studies investigating five MBTs were included in the NMA. For cancer patients receiving active treatment, mindfulness demonstrated the largest effect size in reducing subjective sleep disturbance (standardised mean difference [SMD]: 0.85; 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.20-1.50; Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation assessment: moderate), and had the highest cumulative probability compared to usual care or waitlist. For cancer patients who had completed active treatment, qigong demonstrated the largest effect size in reducing subjective sleep disturbance (SMD: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.35-1.63; GRADE: low), followed by hypnosis (SMD: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.32-1.42; GRADE: moderate), and mindfulness (SMD: 0.42; 95% CI: 0.24-0.59; GRADE: moderate). Qigong also demonstrated the largest effect size in improving objective sleep efficiency (weighted mean differences: 10.76; 95% CI: 2.01-19.50; GRADE: low); however, the effect of qigong was tested in only one study in this NMA. Among the eight different treatment conditions, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) showed the highest cumulative probability (surface under the cumulative ranking curve: 96.3%) in reducing subjective sleep disturbance and the second highest cumulative probability (SUCRA: 83.3%) in improving objective sleep efficiency. There is no evidence supporting the use of MBTs to replace or be comparable to CBT. Mindfulness can be recommended as an optional treatment for reducing sleep disturbance in patients with early-stage cancer. Some support was observed for qigong and hypnosis in reducing sleep disturbances in patients with early-stage cancer who had completed active treatment. More rigorous trials are warranted to confirm whether different forms of MBTs have different effects on sleep in patients with cancer.

Complementary Therapies: Tai Chi in the Prevention and Management of Cardiovascular Disease.

Cardiovascular disease has remained the top contributor to global mortality for decades, necessitating research into the most effective methods of its prevention and treatment. Simultaneous with an immense amount of discovery and innovation in the field of cardiology, certain therapies with traditional Chinese origins have become progressively more popular in the West in recent decades. Specifically, ancient meditative mind-body practices such as Qigong and Tai Chi may lower cardiovascular disease risk and severity through a focus on movement and meditation. Such practices are generally low-cost and modifiable, with few adverse effects. Studies have shown higher quality of life in patients with coronary artery disease and heart failure after participation in Tai Chi, as well as a positive impact on cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension and waist circumference. Most studies in the field have various limitations, such as small sample size, lack of randomization, and inadequate control; however, these practices show potential as an adjunct in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Patients unable or unwilling to partake in traditionally aerobic activities may benefit greatly from such mind-body therapies. Nonetheless, more studies are warranted for more definitive answers to the question of Tai Chi and Qigong's effectiveness. In this narrative review, we discuss the current evidence surrounding the effects of Qigong and Tai Chi on cardiovascular disease, in addition to the limitations and difficulties in conducting such studies.

A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial Comparing Effects of Qigong and Exercise/Nutrition Training on Fatigue and Other Outcomes in Female Cancer Survivors.

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a common and burdensome, often long-term side effect of cancer and its treatment. Many non-pharmacological treatments have been investigated as possible CRF therapies, including exercise, nutrition, health/psycho-education, and mind-body therapies. However, studies directly comparing the efficacy of these treatments in randomized controlled trials are lacking. To fill this gap, we conducted a parallel single blind randomized controlled pilot efficacy trial with women with CRF to directly compare the effects of Qigong (a form of mind-body intervention) (n = 11) to an intervention that combined strength and aerobic exercise, plant-based nutrition and health/psycho-education (n = 13) in a per protocol analysis. This design was chosen to determine the comparative efficacy of 2 non-pharmacologic interventions, with different physical demand intensities, in reducing the primary outcome measure of self-reported fatigue (FACIT "Additional Concerns" subscale). Both interventions showed a mean fatigue improvement of more than double the pre-established minimal clinically important difference of 3 (qigong: 7.068 ± 10.30, exercise/nutrition: 8.846 ± 12.001). Mixed effects ANOVA analysis of group × time interactions revealed a significant main effect of time, such that both groups significantly improved fatigue from pre- to post-treatment (F(1,22) = 11.898, P = .002, generalized eta squared effect size = 0.116) There was no significant difference between fatigue improvement between groups (independent samples t-test: P = .70 ), suggesting a potential equivalence or non-inferiority of interventions, which we could not definitively establish due to our small sample size. This study provides evidence from a small sample of n = 24 women with CRF that qigong improves fatigue similarly to exercise-nutrition courses. Qigong additionally significantly improved secondary measures of mood, emotion regulation, and stress, while exercise/nutrition significantly improved secondary measures of sleep/fatigue. These findings provide preliminary evidence for divergent mechanisms of fatigue improvement across interventions, with qigong providing a gentler and lower-intensity alternative to exercise/nutrition.

Heart rate variability as an indicator of the beneficial effects of Qigong and mindfulness training on the mind-body well-being of cancer survivors.

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) and fear of recurrence (FOR) are frequently experienced by cancer patients. This study aimed to improve cancer survivors' CRF, FOR, quality of life (QOL), and heart rate variability (HRV) through Qigong and mindfulness interventions. A quasi-experimental design was adopted, and 125 cancer survivors were recruited using snowball sampling. The participants were assigned to 1 of 3 groups (Qigong, mindfulness, and control) based on their needs and preferences. All groups received 4 h of nutrition education at the pretest (T0). CRF, FOR, and QOL questionnaires and HRV parameters were used as the measurement tools. Data were collected at the pretest (T0), posttest (T1), and follow-up (T2). Qigong had a better effect on improving CRF (ΔT1-T0 = - 0.108, ΔT2-T1 = - 0.008) and FOR (ΔT1-T0 = - 0.069, ΔT2-T1 = - 0.150) in the long term, while mindfulness improved QOL (ΔT1-T0 = 0.096, ΔT2-T1 = 0.013) better in the long term. Both Qigong and mindfulness had a short-term effect in improving SDNN (Q: ΔT1-T0 = 1.584; M: ΔT1-T0 = 6.979) and TP (Q: ΔT1-T0 = 41.601; M: ΔT1-T0 = 205.407), but the improvement in LF (Q: ΔT2-T1 = - 20.110; M: ΔT2-T1 = - 47.800) was better in the long term. HRV evaluation showed that Qigong and the mindfulness interventions had short-term effects in significantly improving overall physical and mental health, self-emotional regulation, and QOL and relieving fatigue and autonomic dysfunction. HRV may serve as an observational indicator of interventions to improve physical and mental health. The consistent practice of mind-body interventions is the primary means of optimizing overall health and well-being.

The Effects of Mind-Body Exercises on Chronic Spinal Pain Outcomes: A Synthesis Based on 72 Meta-Analyses.

An umbrella review of systematic reviews with a meta-analysis was developed to summarize the evidence on the effectiveness of qigong, tai chi, and yoga in chronic spinal pain outcomes. The CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase, PsycINFO, PubMed and SPORTDiscus databases were searched. Pain, psychological factors, and quality of life (QOL) were the outcomes of interest. The methodological quality of the reviews was evaluated using the AMSTAR-2 tool. The overlap was calculated using the corrected covered area. A total of 72 meta-analyses drawn from 20 systematic reviews were included and often were rated at a critically low quality. The effects of qigong on chronic low back and neck pain (CLBP and CNP, respectively) were inconsistent, although it improved the physical component of QOL after 12 weeks for CNP. Tai chi was superior to the controls in reducing CLBP; no reviews of interest were found on CNP. Yoga was superior to multiple controls in reducing CLBP, but no relevant effects on depression or QOL were found. QOL, anxiety, depression, and general mood improved with yoga for CNP. Inconsistencies arose related to yoga and CNP. Our findings mainly supported the potential effects of yoga and tai chi on pain-related outcomes, psychological factors, and QOL in populations with CLBP and NP. Clinical and methodological considerations were discussed.

Effect of Zhan Zhuang Qigong on upper limb static tremor and aerobic exercise capacity in patients with mild-to-moderate Parkinson’s disease: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

IntroductionCurrently, the first choice for the clinical treatment of static tremor in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is drug therapy, however side effects are common. In recent years, the effects of physical...

Effectiveness of qigong and tai chi in the quality of life of patients with cancer: protocol for an umbrella review

IntroductionQigong and tai chi (QTC) have been adopted by many patients with cancer as a complementary treatment with their conventional mainstream cancer management. Findings from current systematic reviews are inconsistent....

The Impact of Qigong and Tai Chi Exercise on Drug Addiction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BackgroundPrevious preliminary studies have found that qigong exercises produced significant effects in healthy people and in various clinical populations. The purpose of this study was to systematically review the effects of qigong and tai chi exercise on individuals with drug addiction.MethodsA systematic search of seven English databases and three Chinese databases was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized comparative studies (NRS) assessing the effects of qigong and tai chi on drug addiction. Study quality was assessed using the Checklist for the Evaluation of Non-Pharmaceutical Trial Reports (CLEAR-NPT).ResultsTwo RCTs and nine NRS studies were included in this study, including a total of 1072 patients with drug addiction (age range, 27–43 years). The results showed that qigong and tai chi exercise had a significant overall effect on depression (SMD = −0.353, 95%CI [−0.548, −0.159]), anxiety (SMD = −0.541, 95%CI [−0.818, −0.264]), quality of life (SMD = 0.673, 95%CI [0.438, 0.907]), and sleep quality (SMD = −0.373, 95%CI [−0.631, −0.116]). The subgroup analysis found that qigong outperformed tai chi on the improving depression, anxiety, and sleep quality.ConclusionExisting studies suggest that qigong and tai chi are effective at improving depression, anxiety, and quality of life in drug users; however, the evidence from rigorous randomized controlled group trials is lacking.

Impact of Qigong exercises on the severity of the menopausal symptoms and health-related quality of life: A randomised controlled trial

ABSTRACT The aim of the present study was to analyze the effects of a Qigong exercise programme on the severity of the menopausal symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of community-dwelling postmenopausal women. This was done by means of a randomised clinical trial with a sample of 125 women who were assigned to either a control (n = 62) or an experimental group (n = 63). The severity of their menopause-related symptoms and HRQoL were assessed through the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) and the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) respectively, before and after the intervention period. The main findings of our study reveal significant improvement in the severity of menopausal symptoms at the somatic, psychological, and urogenital levels, as well as in the total score of the MRS. Additionally, participants assigned to the Qigong group experienced improvement in the general health, physical functioning, role-physical, bodily pain, vitality, and mental health domains of the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey, as well as in its physical component and mental component summaries. We can therefore conclude that, among Spanish postmenopausal women, a twelve-week Qigong exercise programme has beneficial effects on the severity of menopausal symptoms and HRQoL. Highlights We have studied the effects of Qigong on menopause-related quality of life. Qigong is a useful tool in the management of the severity of menopausal symptoms. A 12-week Qigong programme showed benefits on health-related quality of life. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03989453.

The Effects of Qigong for Hypertension: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background Hypertension has been a global public health problem. Qigong as a complementary and alternative therapy is often used to reduce blood pressure. The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate the effects of Qigong on blood pressure in hypertensive patients. Methods Six electronic resource databases were searched from inception to January 2019, and randomized controlled trials of Qigong on hypertension were retrieved. Meta-analysis was conducted according to the guidelines of the Cochrane Collaboration, and Review Manager 5.3 was applied. Two researchers independently identified articles to include based on inclusion/exclusion criteria, data extraction, and quality evaluation. Results Fourteen studies, with 829 individuals, were included. The meta-analysis demonstrates that, compared with no exercise, Qigong has significant positive effects on systolic blood pressure (mean difference = −8.90, 95% CI (−12.13, −5.67), P < 0.00001) and diastolic blood pressure (mean difference = −5.02, 95% CI (−7.88, −2.17), P < 0.00001). There is, however, no significant difference between Qigong and other aerobic exercises in reducing blood pressure. Conclusion Qigong can effectively reduce blood pressure levels. Longer-term engagement in the practice has an even better effect in hypertension patients. However, the conclusion of this study still needs to be verified by more high-quality studies.

Effect of qigong for sleep disturbance-related symptom clusters in cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectivesTo examine the effects of qigong interventions on sleep disturbance-related symptom clusters for cancer patients and to explore the possible mediating role of fatigue and depression in affecting sleep. MethodsIn this systematic review and meta-analysis, a systematic search was conducted through October 2020 by searching multiple English and Chinese databases. Inclusion was limited to randomized controlled trials that measured the effect of qigong on sleep and fatigue/depressive symptoms in cancer patients. Eleven studies involving 907 cancer patients were included in the systematic review, whereas the meta-analysis included ten studies with 851 cancer patients. ResultsThe most commonly investigated form of qigong was Taichi, and the intervention length ranged from 10 days to 6 months. All studies employed self-reported measurements. Overall, qigong significantly improved sleep (SMD = −1.28, 95% CI: −2.01, −0.55) and fatigue (SMD = −0.89, 95% CI: −1.59, −0.19) in cancer patients post-intervention, but not depressive symptoms (SMD = −0.69, 95% CI: −1.81, 0.42). Notably, the benefits on sleep and fatigue became non-significant after 3 months. Qigong's effect on sleep was significantly mediated by its effect on fatigue (β = 1.27, SE = 0.24, p = 0.002), but not depressive symptoms (β = 0.53, SE = 0.26, p = 0.106). ConclusionsQigong can be recommended for improving sleep disturbance-fatigue symptom clusters in the cancer population, while qigong's benefit on sleep is likely based on its effect on reducing fatigue. Future qigong studies should adopt more rigorous design and employ strategies to maintain longevity of intervention benefits.

ЦИГУН И УШУ КАК ЭФФЕКТИВНЫЕ ВОСТОЧНЫЕ ОЗДОРОВИТЕЛЬНЫЕ ГИМНАСТИКИ

Currently, due to changes in working and living conditions, the risk of various diseases increases. In this review article, the author examines the impact of various oriental gymnastics on the health of students. The purpose of the study is to study the possibilities of improving students ' health by means of Qigong and WUSHU gymnastics when using their elements in classes at the university. Research objectives: 1) to determine the effect of Qigong and Wushu gymnastics on the general physical condition of the body of students of a special medical group; 2) to develop an experimental method of using the means of recreational gymnastics Qigong and WUSHU for physical education with students of a special medical group. Research methods: theoretical analysis and generalization of scientific and methodological literature on the problem under study; testing of indicators of the level of development of the respiratory system, which included measuring the vital capacity of the lungs using a spirometer( Spirit-01), the Stange test (breath retention on inspiration), the Genchi test (breath retention on exhalation), the test for determining the level of health according to G. L. Apanasenko (1985). Eastern gymnastics Qigong and WUSHU promote physical recovery, improve the mental state of students. The use of elements of eastern gymnastics Qigong and WUSHU in physical education classes at the university, gives a high result of physical recovery of students. The use of elements of eastern gymnastics Qigong and WUSHU contributes to the harmonious development of the body of students, support its performance and recovery. Eastern health-improving gymnastics Qigong and WUSHU can be used in the educational process of university students, for improving health, improving performance, as well as preventing diseases.