Trends in Yoga, Tai Chi, and Qigong Use Among US Adults, 2002-2017

Author: Wang CC1, Li K1, Choudhury A1, Gaylord S1
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>Claudia (Chunyun) Wang is with the Department of Health and Human Development, Western Washington University, Bellingham and the School of Physical Education, Pingdingshan University, Pingdingshan, Henan Province, China. Kaigang Li is with the Department of Health and Exercise Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. Arkopal Choudhury is with the Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Susan Gaylord is with the Department of Physical Medicine &amp; Rehabilitation, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Conference/Journal: Am J Public Health.
Date published: 2019 Mar 21
Other: Volume ID: e1-e7 , Special Notes: doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2019.304998. [Epub ahead of print] , Word Count: 176

OBJECTIVES: To examine the characteristics and temporal trends of yoga, tai chi, and qigong (YTQ) use among US adults.

METHODS: Using the 2002, 2007, 2012, and 2017 National Health Interview Surveys, we examined the prevalence, patterns, and predicting factors of YTQ use by Taylor series linear regression, the Wald F χ2 test, and multivariable logistic regression models (n = 116 404).

RESULTS: YTQ use increased from 5.8% in 2002 to 14.5% in 2017 (P ≤ .001). Only 6.6% of YTQ users were referred by their medical doctors, and approximately one third disclosed their use of YTQ to medical professionals. Reasons for using YTQ included (1) YTQ was beneficial, (2) YTQ focused on the whole person, and (3) YTQ was natural. Acute and chronic pain, arthritis, and depression were the top 3 medical conditions for which people used YTQ the most.

CONCLUSIONS: YTQ use is increasing substantially, mainly because of its natural and holistic healing approach toward health and chronic diseases. Future studies aiming to explore how to best integrate YTQ into the current health care system are warranted. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print March 21, 2019: e1-e7. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2019.304998).

PMID: 30896991 DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2019.304998