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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2023 Nov 20;23(1):418.
doi: 10.1186/s12906-023-04238-8.

Effects of pulmonary-based Qigong exercise in stable patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a randomized controlled trial

Linhong Jiang #  1 , Peijun Li #  1 , Jiacheng Shi  1 , Yidie Bao  1 , Zhenwei Wang  2 , Weibing Wu  3 , Xiaodan Liu  4   5   6
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Effects of pulmonary-based Qigong exercise in stable patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a randomized controlled trial

Linhong Jiang et al. BMC Complement Med Ther. .

Abstract

Background: Physical exercise training is the central component of pulmonary rehabilitation. This study aimed to further investigate the rehabilitative effects of pulmonary-based Qigong exercise (PQE) in stable patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: In this randomized, assessor-blinded clinical trial, 44 participants with stable COPD were randomly assigned to 2 groups in a 1:1 ratio. Participants in the control group received usual care for 3 months. Participants in the intervention group received usual care combined with PQE (60 min each time, 2 times per day, 7 days per week, for 3 months). The outcome included exercise capacity, lung function test, skeletal muscle strength, dyspnea, and quality of life were measured before and after intervention.

Results: A total of 37 participants completed the trial. Compared to the control group, after 3 months of PQE, the mean change in exercise capacity, skeletal muscle strength, and quality of life were statistically significant (P < 0.05, for each), but no significant differences were observed in lung function (except for the forced expiratory volume in one second) and dyspnea (P > 0.05, for each).

Conclusion: The findings of study suggest that the proposed program of 3 months of PQE intervention has significant improvement in exercise capacity, skeletal muscle strength, and quality of life of COPD-stable patients.

Trial registration: This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Trial ID: ChiCTR-1800017405 on 28 July 2018; available at https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=28343 ).

Keywords: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Rehabilitation; Traditional Chinese exercise.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Main characteristics of pulmonary-based Qigong exercise. a Rise-up position. b “hu” sounding. c “si” sounding. d Pushing up the sky to regulate the triple warmer. e Drawing a bow to shoot a vulture. f Crane spread its wings. g Crane exercise of the crane flies. h Cross-armed iron staff. i Restore position
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Flowchart of study participants
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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