The effect of tai-chi-qui-gong exercises on patients' pulmonary function, exercise capacity, and quality of life after lobectomy

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Tai-Chi-Qui-Gong (TCQG) practice on patients' pulmonary function, activity capacity, and quality of life after lobectomy. Subjects admitted at a chest surgical ward of a medical center in Taipei city were included voluntarily after signing informed consents. The first 20 subjects were assigned to the control group, and the next 20 were assigned to the experimental group. Subjects in the experimental group received a training class on 10 motions of TCQG two days before surgery. They began to practice the TCQG exercises twice per day from the first postoperative day. They started with three motions on the first day, increasing to 10 on the fifth day. The control group received standard post-lobectomy care, which did not include the TCQG exercises. All subjects received measures on pulmonary function and six-minutes walk distance (6MWD) two days prior to the operation, as well as one week, and one month after the operation. Quality of life was measured two days before the operation and one month after the operation. The major statistical procedures applied in data management included: Chi-square, two-way ANOVA, independent-T test, and repeated-measures ANOVA. The p value level of <.05 was used as the significant level. The results indicated that subjects in the experimental group had significant improvement in their tidal volume and 6MWD after lobectomy, while subjects in the control group did not. The 6MWD of the subjects in the experimental group reverted to the preoperative status at the end of the first week, and was even better one month later. The postoperative quality of life of the subjects in the experimental group was significantly better than that of in the control group. These findings indicate that 10 motions of TCQG exercise were effective in improving pulmonary function, activity capacity, and quality of life of patients after lobectomy.