Physical and psychological effects of Qigong exercise in community-dwelling older adults: An exploratory study.
Author: Chang PS1, Knobf MT2, Oh B3, Funk M4
Affiliation:
1School of Nursing, Yale University, Yale University West Campus, P.O. Box 27399, West Haven, CT 06516-7399, USA; School of Nursing, Indiana University at Bloomington, 1033 E. Third Street, Sycamore Hall 4th Floor, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA. Electronic address: pc21@indiana.edu.
2School of Nursing, Yale University, Yale University West Campus, P.O. Box 27399, West Haven, CT 06516-7399, USA. Electronic address: tish.knobf@yale.edu.
3Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney; Northern Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: byeong.oh@sydney.edu.au.
4School of Nursing, Yale University, Yale University West Campus, P.O. Box 27399, West Haven, CT 06516-7399, USA. Electronic address: marjorie.funk@yale.edu.
Conference/Journal: Geriatr Nurs.
Date published: 2017 Aug 16
Other:
Pages: S0197-4572(17)30173-8 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2017.07.004. [Epub ahead of print] , Word Count: 162
Older adults need exercise programs that correspond to age-related changes. The purpose of this study was to explore preliminary effects of an 8-week Qigong exercise intervention on the physical ability, functional and psychological health, and spiritual well-being of community-dwelling older adults. Forty-five community-dwelling adults with the mean age of 74.8 years participated a 1-h Health Qigong exercise session twice weekly for 8 weeks. The majority were female (84%) and white (91%), and lived with their spouse (49%). Physical ability (p < 0.001), functional health (p = 0.001), balance (p < 0.001), functional reach (p < 0.001), depression (p = 0.005), and spiritual well-being (p = 0.004) improved significantly after the 8-week intervention. Most participants perceived physical ability, mental health, and spiritual well-being benefits. No adverse events were reported. A twice weekly Qigong exercise program over 8 weeks is feasible and has potential to improve physical ability, functional health, balance, psychological health, and spiritual well-being in older adults.
Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS: Functional health; Older adults; Psychological health; Qigong; Spiritual well-being
PMID: 28822591 DOI: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2017.07.004
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