Qigong for Health and Disease Management
Original Editors - Ziya Altug
Top Contributors - Cindy John-Chu, Kim Jackson, Robin Leigh Tacchetti and Robin Tacchetti
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Qigong (also written as qi gong or chu kung) is an ancient Chinese practice that uses movement, breathing, meditation, relaxation, and internal energy. Qi (meaning breath, air, spirit) in traditional Chinese medicine is the “vital force or energy of life.”[1] The earliest qigong-like exercises in China are from animal movements. Many qigong postures have names such as Bathing Duck, Leaping Monkey, Turning Tiger, Coiling Snake, Old Bear in the Woods, and Flying Crane.[2] Qigong can be practised anywhere, does not involve any specialized equipment, and is especially beneficial in a pleasant outdoor area.
Figure 1 shows an adapted version of Baduanjin Qigong. Figure 2 shows an enlarged version of the adapted Baduanjin Qigong energy punch exercise.
Figure 1
Figure 2
There are many forms of qigong, such as:
- Eight Section Brocade Qigong (also known as Eight Strands of Brocade, Eight Pieces of Brocade, Eight Silken Movements, Baduanjin or Ba Duan Jin)
- Five Animals Play Qigong (Wu Qin Xi)
- Fragrant Qigong
- Guo Lin Qigong (walking qigong)
- Laughing Qigong
- Medical Qigong
- Nei Yang Gong Qigong
- Six Healing Sounds Qigong (Liu Zi Jue)
- Tai Chi Qigong
Qigong for Health and Disease Management[edit | edit source]
The following are medical conditions that Baduanjin qigong, one form of qigong, may help:
- Ankylosing spondylitis symptoms[3]
- Anxiety and depression symptoms[4]
- Bone loss prevention in middle aged women[5]
- Cancer-related fatigue in patients with colorectal cancer[6][7]
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease[8]
- Chronic stroke (improved balance, leg strength, mobility)[9]
- Fibromyalgia[10]
- Heart failure (improved fatigue and quality of life)[11]
- Knee osteoarthritis[12][13]
- Physical and psychological health of elderly housebound individuals[14]
- Musculoskeletal pain[15]
- Parkinson’s disease (improved gait, mobility, sleep)[16]
- Physical and psychological health outcomes among breast cancer survivors[17]
- Post-stroke cognitive impairment[18]
- Sleep quality[19]
- Type 2 diabetes[20]
Practical Application[edit | edit source]
The best approach to learning any one of the styles of qigong is to take classes. As a visual demonstration, see Figure 1 for the basic Baduanjin qigong movements.[2]
Related Articles[edit | edit source]
- Carvalho LP, Décary S, Beaulieu-Boire I, et al. Baduanjin qigong intervention by telerehabilitation (TeleParkinson): A proof-of-concept study in Parkinson's disease. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(13):6990. doi:10.3390/ijerph18136990
- Liu W, Schaffer L, Herrs N, Chollet C, Taylor S. Improved sleep after Qigong exercise in breast cancer survivors: a pilot study. Asia Pac J Oncol Nurs. 2015;2(4):232-239. doi:10.4103/2347-5625.170537
- Rendant D, Pach D, Lüdtke R, et al. Qigong versus exercise versus no therapy for patients with chronic neck pain: a randomized controlled trial. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2011;36(6):419-427. doi:10.1097/BRS.0b013e3181d51fca
- Wu WH, Bandilla E, Ciccone DS, et al. Effects of qigong on late-stage complex regional pain syndrome. Altern Ther Health Med. 1999;5(1):45-54.
- Zou L, SasaKi JE, Wang H, Xiao Z, Fang Q, Zhang M. A systematic review and meta-analysis baduanjin qigong for health benefits: randomized controlled trials. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2017;2017:4548706. doi:10.1155/2017/4548706
- Zou L, Zhang Y, Yang L, et al. Are mindful exercises safe and beneficial for treating chronic lower back pain? a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Clin Med. 2019;8(5):628. doi:10.3390/jcm8050628
Related Books[edit | edit source]
- Chinese Health Qigong Association. Ba Duan Jin: Eight-Section Qigong Exercises. London, UK: Singing Dragon; 2008.
- Chinese Health Qigong Association. Wu Qin Xi: Five Animal Qigong Exercises. London, UK: Singing Dragon; 2008.
- Chinese Health Qigong Association. Yi Jin Jing: Tendon-Muscle Strengthening Qigong Exercises. London, UK: Singing Dragon; 2008.
- Chinese Health Qigong Association. Lui Zi Jue: Six Sounds Approach to Qigong Breathing Exercises. London, UK: Singing Dragon; 2008.
- Liu MH, and Perry P. The Healing Art of Qi Gong. New York, NY: Warner Books; 1997.
Video Resources[edit | edit source]
- “5 Element Qigong” from Dr. Paul Lam, an Australian family physician.
Resources[edit | edit source]
- American Tai Chi and Qigong Association
- International Medical Tai Chi and Qigong Association
- National Qigong Association
- Qigong Institute
- Qigong in Cancer Care
- Qimaster (Grandmaster Hong Liu)
References [edit | edit source]
- ↑ Venes D (ed). Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, 23rd ed. Philadelpia, PA: F.A. Davis Company; 2017.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Altug, Z. Integrative Healing: Developing Wellness in the Mind and Body. Springville, UT: Plain Sight Publishing; 2018.
- ↑ Xie Y, Guo F, Lu Y, et al. A 12-week Baduanjin Qigong exercise improves symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis: a randomized controlled trial. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2019;36:113-119. doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2018.12.007
- ↑ Chan JS, Li A, Ng SM, et al. Adiponectin potentially contributes to the antidepressive effects of Baduanjin qigong exercise in women with chronic fatigue syndrome-like illness. Cell Transplant. 2017;26(3):493-501. doi:10.3727/096368916X694238
- ↑ Chen HH, Yeh ML, Lee FY. The effects of Baduanjin qigong in the prevention of bone loss for middle-aged women. Am J Chin Med. 2006;34(5):741-747. doi:10.1142/S0192415X06004259
- ↑ Kuo CC, Wang CC, Chang WL, Liao TC, Chen PE, Tung TH. Clinical effects of Baduanjin qigong exercise on cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis on randomized controlled trials. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021;2021:6651238. doi:10.1155/2021/6651238
- ↑ Lu Y, Qu HQ, Chen FY, et al. Effect of Baduanjin qigong exercise on cancer-related fatigue in patients with colorectal cancer undergoing chemotherapy: a randomized controlled trial. Oncol Res Treat. 2019;42(9):431-439. doi:10.1159/000501127
- ↑ Cao A, Feng F, Zhang L, Zhou X. Baduanjin exercise for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Rehabil. 2020;34(8):1004-1013. doi:10.1177/0269215520926635
- ↑ Yuen M, Ouyang HX, Miller T, Pang MYC. Baduanjin qigong improves balance, leg strength, and mobility in individuals with chronic stroke: a randomized controlled study. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2021;35(5):444-456. doi:10.1177/15459683211005020
- ↑ Jiao J, Russell IJ, Wang W, Wang J, Zhao YY, Jiang Q. Ba-Duan-Jin alleviates pain and fibromyalgia-related symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia: results of a randomised controlled trial. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2019;37(6):953-962.
- ↑ Chen DM, Yu WC, Hung HF, Tsai JC, Wu HY, Chiou AF. The effects of Baduanjin exercise on fatigue and quality of life in patients with heart failure: a randomized controlled trial. Eur J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2018;17(5):456-466. doi:10.1177/1474515117744770
- ↑ Ye J, Simpson MW, Liu Y, et al. The effects of Baduanjin qigong on postural stability, proprioception, and symptoms of patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial. Front Med (Lausanne). 2020;6:307. doi:10.3389/fmed.2019.00307
- ↑ Zeng ZP, Liu YB, Fang J, Liu Y, Luo J, Yang M. Effects of Baduanjin exercise for knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Complement Ther Med. 2020;48:102279. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2019.102279
- ↑ Jing L, Jin Y, Zhang X, Wang F, Song Y, Xing F. The effect of Baduanjin qigong combined with CBT on physical fitness and psychological health of elderly housebound. Medicine (Baltimore). 2018;97(51):e13654. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000013654
- ↑ Zou L, Yeung A, Quan X, Boyden SD, Wang H. A systematic review and meta-analysis of mindfulness-based (Baduanjin) exercise for alleviating musculoskeletal pain and improving sleep quality in people with chronic diseases. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(2):206. doi:10.3390/ijerph15020206
- ↑ Xiao CM, Zhuang YC. Effect of health Baduanjin qigong for mild to moderate Parkinson's disease. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2016;16(8):911-919. doi:10.1111/ggi.12571
- ↑ Ying W, Min QW, Lei T, Na ZX, Li L, Jing L. The health effects of Baduanjin exercise (a type of Qigong exercise) in breast cancer survivors: a randomized, controlled, single-blinded trial. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2019;39:90-97. doi:10.1016/j.ejon.2019.01.007
- ↑ Zheng G, Zheng Y, Xiong Z, Ye B. Effect of Baduanjin exercise on cognitive function in patients with post-stroke cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2020;34(8):1028-1039. doi:10.1177/0269215520930256
- ↑ Jiang YH, Tan C, Yuan S. Baduanjin exercise for insomnia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Behav Sleep Med. 2017;1-13. doi:10.1080/15402002.2017.1363042
- ↑ Wen J, Lin T, Cai Y, et al. Baduanjin exercise for type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2017;2017:8378219. doi:10.1155/2017/8378219