Efficacy of Liuzijue Qigong in Individuals with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Remission.


Author: Xiao CM1, Zhuang YC2.

Affiliation: 1Department of Health Promotion and Physical Education, Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication, Beijing, China. 2Department of Wushu, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China.
Conference/Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc.
Date published: 2015 Jul
Other:
 Volume ID: 63   ,  Issue ID: 7   ,  Pages: 1420-5   ,  Special Notes:  doi: 10.1111/jgs.13478   ,  Word Count: 235  
    

OBJECTIVES:

To investigate the effectiveness of a 6-month Liuzijue qigong (LQG) program in promoting physical and psychosocial function in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

DESIGN:

Single-blind, randomized controlled trial.

SETTING:

Seven hospital respiratory care centers in Beijing.

PARTICIPANTS:

Individuals with COPD (N = 126; mean age 71.1 ± 2.7, range 65-85).

METHODS:

Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: LQG (n = 63) and control (n = 63). Subjects in the LQG group received a LQG program consisting of four 45-minute sessions each week and daily walking for 30 minutes for 6 months. Control subjects walked daily for 30 minutes. Data collection was performed at baseline, at 6 weeks, and at 6 months. Primary outcomes involved functional capacity, and secondary outcomes involved quality of life.

RESULTS:

The LQG group had greater improvements in the 6-minute walk test (P = .02); specific airway conductance (P = .02); monitored functional task evaluation (P = .04); Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36; general health (P < .001), mental health (P = .03)); Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire (dyspnea (P = .05), emotion (P = .05), and mastery (P = .04) at 6-month follow-up. After 6 months, the control group had significant improvement only on the SF-36 mental health (P = .02).

CONCLUSION:

LQG promoted functional capacity and quality of life in older adults with COPD at 6 months and is a good alternative home exercise program for older adults in the rehabilitation of COPD.

© 2015, Copyright the Authors Journal compilation © 2015, The American Geriatrics Society.

KEYWORDS:

Liuzijue qigong; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; elderly; functional capacity; quality of life

PMID: 26131612