Efficacy of yoga, tai chi and qi gong on the main symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A systematic review.

Author: Reychler G1, Poncin W2, Montigny S3, Luts A4, Caty G5, Pieters T6
Affiliation:
1Institut de recherche expérimentale et clinique (irec), pôle de pneumologie, ORL & dermatologie, université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium; Service de pneumologie, cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium; Haute école Leonard de Vinci-institut d'enseignement supérieur Parnasse-Deux Alice, Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: gregory.reychler@uclouvain.be.
2Institut de recherche expérimentale et clinique (irec), pôle de pneumologie, ORL & dermatologie, université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium; Service de pneumologie, cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: William.poncin@uclouvain.be.
3Haute école Leonard de Vinci-institut d'enseignement supérieur Parnasse-Deux Alice, Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: montigny.sophie@wanadoo.fr.
4Département de psychiatrie adulte, cliniques universitaires Saint Luc, Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: alain.luts@uclouvain.be.
5Service de médecine physique et réadaptation, cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: gilles.caty@uclouvain.be.
6Institut de recherche expérimentale et clinique (irec), pôle de pneumologie, ORL & dermatologie, université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium; Service de pneumologie, cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: thierry.pieters@uclouvain.be.
Conference/Journal: Respir Med Res.
Date published: 2019 Apr 16
Other: Volume ID: 75 , Pages: 13-25 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.resmer.2019.04.002. [Epub ahead of print] , Word Count: 150


INTRODUCTION: The aim of this systematic review was to summarize the effects of yoga, qi gong or tai chi in COPD patients.

METHODS: Studies evaluating effects of the selected complementary therapies on lung function, dyspnea, quality of life or functional exercise capacity in COPD patients were identified and reviewed from three databases.

RESULTS: Eighteen studies were included. Six studies evaluated the effects of yoga and the others focused on tai chi or qi gong separately or combined. The duration of the programs ranged from 6 weeks to 6 months and the frequency from 2 to 7 times a week. Each session reached 30 to 90 minutes. Benefits were observed on lung function and functional exercise capacity but benefit was clearly stated neither on quality of life nor on dyspnea.

CONCLUSION: This systematic review highlights the potential of these therapies as complementary therapeutic approach in COPD patients.

Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.

PMID: 31235453 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmer.2019.04.002

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