Project Title:

Use of Chinese Qi-Gong and/or Taichi in Prevention and Rehabilitation
中國氣功和/或太極在疾病預防和復康中的應用

Principal Investigator:

Professor Cecilia CHAN

Organization:

Center on Behavioral Health, The University of Hong Kong

Start Year:

2009 - 2010

Status: 

Type of Study: 

Summary:

Background

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is an important part of healthcare in Chinese communities and has been widely adopted alongside Western medicine. The integration of TCM and Western medicine has been extensively promoted and studied in China. Randomized clinical trials have shown efficacy for some TCM therapies, but the efficacy of other complementary and alternative modalities, particularly Qi-Gong, remains uncertain despite its popularity among chronic patients. A comprehensive and systematic review of evidence-based studies on Chinese Qi-Gong is needed to examine its efficacy and effectiveness.

Study Objectives

To identify the use of Chinese Qi-Gong in the prevention, palliation and rehabilitation of:

1. Depression and related diseases;
2. Cardiac and respiratory diseases;
3. Muscular skeletal diseases;
4. Infections; and
5. Cancer.

Conclusions

1. Taichi exercise is a good option for heart patients with every limited exercise tolerance and can be an adjunct to rehabilitation programs for patients with CHD or CHF.
2. Chinese qigong exercise seems to be an optimal option for patients with chronic heart diseases who were unable to engage in other forms of physical activity; however, its efficacy and effectiveness in cardiac rehabilitation programs should be further tested.
3. Favorable effects of qigong exercise on immunity are found.
4. Taichi exercise appears to improve both cell-mediated immunity and antibody response in immune system, but it remains debatable whether the changes in immune parameters are sufficient to provide protection from infections.
5. 5) It is too early to draw conclusive statements in the effectiveness of qigong exercise in cancer care and patients with fibromyalgia. Further studies are needed.

Reference:

1. Chan, C. L. W., Wang, C. W., Ho, R. T. H., Ng, S. M., Ziea, E. T. C., & Wong, V. C. W. T. (2012). Qigong exercise for the treatment of fibromyalgia: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 18(7), 641-646. doi:10.1089/acm.2011.0347
   
2. Chan, C. L. W., Wang, C. W., Ho, R. T. H., Ng, S. M., Chan, J. S. M., Ziea, E. T. C., & Wong, V. C. W. (2012). A systematic review of the effectiveness of qigong exercise in supportive cancer care. Supportive Care in Cancer, 20(6), 1121-33. 
3. Chan CL, Wang CW, Ho RT, Ho AH, Ziea ET, Taam Wong VC, Ng SM. (2012). A systematic review of the effectiveness of qigong exercise in cardiac rehabilitation. Am J Chin Med. 40(2):255-67.
4. Ng, S. M., Wang, C. W., Ho, R. T. H., Ziea, E. T. C., Wong, V. C. W., & Chan, C. L. W. (2012). Tai chi exercise for patients with heart diseases: A systematic review of controlled clinical trials. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 18(3), 16-22.
5. Wang, C. W., Ng, S. M., Ho, R. T. H., Ziea, E. T. C., Wong, V. C. W., & Chan, C. L. W. (2012). The effect of qigong exercise on immunity and infections: A systematic review of controlled trials. The American Journal of Chinese Medicine, 40(6), 1143–1156.
6. Ho, R. T. H., Wang, C. W., Ng, S. M., Ho, A. H. Y., Ziea, E. T. C., Wong, V. C. W. T., & Chan, C. L. W. (2013). The effect of t'ai chi exercise on immunity and infections: A systematic review of controlled trials. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 19(5):389-96. doi:10.1089/acm.2011.0593

氣功; 心臟; 康復; 系統評價; 系統性回顧; 腫瘤; 癌症護理; 醫學及公共衛生; 護理; 止痛藥; 復康; 纖維肌痛; 太極; 心臟疾病; 日常生活活動; 冠狀動脈疾病; 康復; 免疫力; 感染; 衰老