Introduction
This document contains information about recent research on the effectiveness of qigong and/or taiji (or tai chi) in helping COPD patients. The first section is our summary of all the studies we found on qigong and/or taiji interventions. We believe that qigong and taiji have very similar benefits. We believe the terms are interchangeable. The sections that follow are the individual studies that make up the summary.
Pulmonary Challenges
The following is a summary of 108 studies that monitored the effects of qigong and or tai chi on those suffering from COPD. The reviews were conducted over a three-year period (2019 – 2022) with over 8100 participants. Some participants were evaluated after fifteen days while other examinations lasted up to one year. Other healing considerations included health education, breathing exercises, traditional western medical treatments and medication.
The results of these trials showed that Tai Chi and or Qigong provided the following benefits:
● Significant improvements in the ability to breathe deeply (lung function), walk (6 minute walking distance) and stand (30 seconds sit-to-stand).
● There was also evidence of significant reductions in person’s perceptions of their anxiety and depression symptoms.
● There was evidence of significant improvements in the person’s self-assessment of their general health and mental health.
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Study 1
Xu and colleagues performed a systematic review and meta-analysis which examined 40 studies involving 3137 participants to determine the efficacy of Liuzijue Qigong in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Thirty-two studies included patients with stable COPD, two studies included patients with acute COPD, and six studies did not differentiate. Intervention periods lasted from 15 days to 1 year. Control groups consisted of health education, breathing exercises, and traditional western medical treatments. Studies which were included utilized a variety of outcome measures. Their results indicated that qigong provided significant improvements in the ability to breathe deeply (forced expiratory volume in 1 s and its percent predicted normal value and forced expiratory volume in 1 s to forced volume capacity ratio), walk (6-min walking distance), and stand (30-s sit-to-stand test). Qigong also provided an increase in the COPD assessment test score, modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale, Medical Research Council dyspnea scale, Traditional Chinese Medicine syndrome score, Hamilton Anxiety Scale, Hamilton Depression Scale and St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire. The authors concluded that Liuzijue Qigong may be an effective adjuvant therapy for the improvement of lung function, exercise capacity, health status, mental status and quality of life in patients with COPD.
Gao et. al performed a systematic review and meta-analysis on the effects of Liuzijue qigong on people with stable COPD, including 16 eligible trials consisting of 1039 participants and demonstrated similar results.
Efficacy of Liuzijue Qigong in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Xu S, Zhang D, He Q, Ma C, Ye S, Ge L, Zhang L, Liu W, Chen Z, Zhou L.
Complement Ther Med. 2022 May;65:102809. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2022.102809. Epub 2022 Jan 29.PMID: 35093513
Effect of liuzijue qigong on patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Gao P, Tang F, Liu W, He K, Mo Y.
Medicine (Baltimore). 2021 Oct 15;100(41):e27344. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000027344.PMID: 34731105
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Study 2
Liu et al. performed a systematic review and meta-analysis which examined the effects of tai chi on the pulmonary rehabilitation of individuals with COPD. A total of twenty three studies involving 1663 participants were reviewed. Control groups consisted of usual care, breathing exercises, medication, yoga, and traditional pulmonary rehabilitation. Intervention styles included Yang style, Chen style, Sun style, qigong, and several studies that did not list the style used. Results showed that the tai chi group was associated with a significant improvement in walking (six-minute walking distance), breathing (percentage predicted forced expiratory flow volume in the first second), St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire score, and Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire relative to control groups utilizing usual care. When compared with breathing exercises, the six-minute walking distance was significantly enhanced with tai chi. Finally, when compared with breathing and walking exercises, tai chi was associated with a significant improvement in six-minute walking distance and St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire score. The authors concluded that tai chi may have the potential to reduce dyspnea, enhance exercise capacity, and improve the quality of life in patients with COPD.
The effect of Tai Chi on the pulmonary rehabilitation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Liu X, Fu C, Hu W, Hao S, Xie L, Wu X, Wang J, Liu Z, Lin Q, Li S.
Ann Palliat Med. 2021 Apr;10(4):3763-3782. doi: 10.21037/apm-20-940. Epub 2021 Apr 15.PMID: 33894710
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Study 3
A meta-analysis performed by Tong and colleagues examined the effects of qigong on patients with stable-stage COPD. They examined 10 studies consisting of 993 participants. Control interventions consisted of conventional medications, pulmonary rehabilitation, breathing exercises, and walking. Compared to control groups, participants in the qigong groups were found to have statistically significant improvements in walking and breathing (6-minute walking distance, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, forced vital capacity rate of 1 second, forced expiratory volume in 1 second/predicted). Qigong also improved Monitored Functional Task Evaluation, COPD Assessment Test for exercise, Short Form-36 Health Quality Survey (SF 36)-General Health, and Short Form-36 Health Quality Survey (SF-36)-Mental Health. The authors concluded that Qigong can improve COPD patients in lung function, exercise capacity and quality of life who were in the stable stage.
The therapeutic effects of qigong in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the stable stage: a meta-analysis.
Tong H, Liu Y, Zhu Y, Zhang B, Hu J.
BMC Complement Altern Med. 2019 Sep 4;19(1):239. Doi: 10.1186/s12906-019- 2639-9.PMID: 31484521
Several additional studies examined the effects of tai chi and qigong on the mental health of individuals with COPD
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Study 4
A meta-analysis by Wu and colleagues examined the effects of qigong on subjective responses of depression and anxiety scales on individuals with COPD. They examined six studies consisting of 415 people. The primary intervention group consisted of qigong and conventional therapy whereas the control groups consisted of conventional therapy only. Compared to control groups, the intervention groups demonstrated significant improvements in the self-rated depression scales as well as the self-rated anxiety scales. Secondary outcomes also revealed significant improvements in forced expiratory volume in one second/prediction (FEV1% pred), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), 6-minute walk test (6MWT) distance, and St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) total score. The authors concluded that qigong can improve the self-rated depression scale and self-rated anxiety scale scores of COPD patients, and has auxiliary effects on improving lung function, walking distance, and respiratory questionnaire score.
A similar meta-analysis and systematic review was performed by Guo et al., which examined thirteen studies discussing the effects of tai chi on the physical and mental health status of individuals with COPD.
Effect of Qigong on self-rating depression and anxiety scale scores of COPD patients: A meta-analysis.
Wu JJ, Zhang YX, Du WS, Jiang LD, Jin RF, Yu HY, Liu JM, Han M.
Medicine (Baltimore). 2019 May;98(22):e15776. Doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000015776.PMID: 31145299
Effects of Tai Chi training on the physical and mental health status in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Guo C, Xiang G, Xie L, Liu Z, Zhang X, Wu Q, Li S, Wu Y.
J Thorac Dis. 2020 Mar;12(3):504-521. doi: 10.21037/jtd.2020.01.03.PMID:32274117
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Study 5
Li and colleagues performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of mind-body exercises for anxiety and depression in patients with COPD. Thirteen studies involving 906 participants were examined. Intervention exercises included tai chi, qigong, and yoga. Control interventions consisted of usual care and health education. Results showed that tai chi, qigong, and yoga had significant benefits on anxiety and depression in patients with COPD. The authors concluded that mind-body exercise could reduce levels of anxiety and depression in those with COPD, however more robust research trials are required on this topic.
Mind-Body Exercise for Anxiety and Depression in COPD Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Li Z, Liu S, Wang L, Smith L
.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Dec 18;17(1):22. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17010022.PMID: 31861418
