Qigong Research

This 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the effects of traditional Chinese exercises, specifically Tai Chi and Qigong, on anxiety and depression in older adult populations. The authors conducted a comprehensive search across multiple databases to identify randomized controlled trials.

The meta-analysis demonstrated that both Tai Chi and Qigong produced statistically significant reductions in anxiety and depression scores compared to control conditions. Subgroup analyses explored how different intervention parameters influenced the magnitude of mental health benefits.

The findings add to a growing body of evidence supporting mind-body exercises as effective non-pharmacological interventions for managing mood disorders in aging populations. The authors emphasize that Tai Chi and Qigong are particularly suitable for older adults due to their gentle, low-impact nature and adaptability to varying fitness levels.

This comprehensive systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression evaluated the effects of Tai Chi and Qigong (TCQ) on both cognitive and physical functions in older adults. The review included randomized clinical trials sourced from major databases and assessed outcomes across multiple domains of health.

The meta-analysis found that TCQ practice led to significant improvements in global cognitive function and executive function among older adults. On the physical side, significant benefits were observed for balance and gait speed, both of which are critical factors in fall prevention and maintaining independence in aging populations.

Meta-regression analyses explored potential moderators of treatment effects, including intervention duration, frequency, and participant characteristics. The findings suggest that TCQ offers a dual benefit for aging populations by simultaneously supporting cognitive health and physical function.

This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the effects of qigong exercise on the physical and mental health of college students. The authors searched multiple databases including PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials comparing qigong to control conditions in college-aged populations.

The meta-analysis included studies assessing both mental health outcomes (anxiety, depression, sleep quality) and physical health markers (lung function, body composition). Results showed that qigong practice led to statistically significant improvements in anxiety and depression scores, as well as improvements in sleep quality among college students.

Physical health outcomes also showed positive effects, particularly for lung function parameters. The authors noted that qigong represents a low-cost, accessible mind-body intervention that could be particularly well-suited for college settings where students face high levels of academic stress and mental health challenges.

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effects of qigong exercise on blood pressure reduction, incorporating trial sequential analysis (TSA) to assess whether the cumulative evidence was conclusive.

Seven randomized controlled trials involving 370 participants were included. The pooled results demonstrated significant reductions in both systolic blood pressure (weighted mean difference -10.66 mmHg, 95% CI -17.69 to -3.62, p < 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (weighted mean difference -6.76 mmHg, 95% CI -12.22 to -1.30, p < 0.001) in the qigong group compared to controls.

The trial sequential analysis, performed for the first time in qigong blood pressure research, confirmed that the cumulative Z-curve crossed the monitoring boundary for systolic blood pressure, suggesting the evidence is sufficient and conclusive. This strengthens the case for qigong as a complementary therapy for hypertension management.

The magnitude of blood pressure reduction observed (approximately 11/7 mmHg) is clinically meaningful and comparable to some first-line antihypertensive medications at low doses.

This systematic review and meta-analysis examined qigong for cancer patients across 22 studies.

Key findings:

• Quality of life: Significant improvement (SMD 0.48)
• Fatigue: Reduced cancer-related fatigue (SMD -0.52)
• Depression: Improved mood (SMD -0.44)
• Anxiety: Reduced symptoms (SMD -0.36)
• Sleep: Improvements reported

Cancer types studied:

• Breast cancer (most common)
• Lung cancer
• Mixed cancer populations
• Various treatment stages

Timing of intervention:

• During active treatment
• Post-treatment recovery
• Survivorship phase
• All phases showed benefit

Safety:

• No serious adverse events
• Well-tolerated during chemotherapy
• Can be modified for physical limitations
• Supervised and home practice both safe

Program characteristics:

• Duration: 6-12 weeks typical
• Frequency: 2-5 sessions/week
• Session length: 30-60 minutes
• Various qigong styles

Clinical significance:

Supports qigong as a safe complementary therapy for improving quality of life in cancer patients, with potential for integration into oncology supportive care.

This meta-analysis examined the effectiveness of qigong-based therapy for adults diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD). The review searched six electronic databases for randomized controlled trials comparing qigong interventions to control conditions.

The pooled analysis found that qigong-based therapy produced a significant reduction in depression severity with a moderate-to-large effect size (Hedges' g = -0.64, 95% CI -0.92 to -0.35, p < 0.001). Heterogeneity was moderate (I-squared = 41.73%), suggesting reasonably consistent results across studies.

Notably, qigong was effective compared to both active controls such as exercise or cognitive-behavioral therapy (Hedges' g = -0.47) and passive controls such as waitlist or usual care (Hedges' g = -0.80). The larger effect against passive controls is expected, but the significant effect against active controls is particularly meaningful, suggesting qigong offers unique therapeutic benefits beyond general physical activity.

The findings support qigong as a viable complementary treatment option for adults with MDD, particularly for those who may not respond well to conventional treatments or prefer mind-body approaches.

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of qigong as a treatment for chronic pain in adults. Five electronic databases were searched from their inception through July 2014, identifying 10 randomized clinical trials that compared qigong to waiting list, placebo, or general care.

The key finding was a clear distinction between internal qigong (self-practiced) and external qigong (administered by a practitioner). Internal qigong showed a statistically significant and large effect on chronic pain reduction compared to controls (SMD = -1.23, 95% CI -2.23 to -0.24, p = 0.02). External qigong applied by a practitioner showed nonsignificant differences compared to placebo (SMD = -0.51) and general care (SMD = -1.53, though confidence intervals were wide).

The results suggest that the self-practice component of qigong is critical for pain management. Conditions studied included fibromyalgia, chronic neck pain, chronic fatigue syndrome, and musculoskeletal pain. Intervention durations ranged from 4 to 12 weeks, with most programs involving daily practice.

The large effect size for internal qigong is encouraging and supports its use as a complementary approach for chronic pain. However, the authors note that higher quality RCTs with scientific rigor are needed to confirm these findings.

This randomized controlled trial examined the effects of a 12-week qigong program in fibromyalgia patients.

Study design:

• 100 participants with fibromyalgia
• 12-week qigong intervention vs waitlist control
• Chaoyi Fanhuan Qigong style
• 45-60 minute sessions, 3x/week

Key findings:

• Pain: Significant reduction (p < 0.001)
• Sleep quality: Improved (p < 0.01)
• Physical function: Better scores (p < 0.01)
• Impact of fibromyalgia: Reduced (p < 0.001)
• Quality of life: Significantly improved

Durability:

• Benefits maintained at 4-month follow-up
• Continued practice associated with sustained improvement
• Some regression in non-adherent participants

Participant experience:

• High satisfaction rates
• Good adherence (78% completion)
• Few adverse events
• Improved self-efficacy

Clinical significance:

Qigong provides meaningful symptom relief for fibromyalgia, a condition often resistant to conventional treatments. Supports integration into comprehensive pain management.