Developed nearly 5,000 years ago in China, qigong integrates methods of body movement, muscle relaxation, meditation, and respiratory exercise to improve physical, emotional, and psychological health. Traditional Chinese Medicine contends that qigong promotes a balanced flow of qi (chee) within the body. It describes disturbed qi as producing discomfort and illness. Conversely, with free flow of qi, one is believed to be in better health ^(1) (2). In Asian cultures, qi is a widely accepted concept of vital energy force, although its physical existence has not been demonstrated scientifically.

There are many forms and variations of qigong. In addition, there are some similarities between qigong and tai chi (or taiji), as both are mind–body–spirit integrative exercises ⁽³⁾ and they are often practiced together. Traditionally, qigong is used for therapeutic purposes. In external qigong, a trained master may transmit energy to a recipient with or without touching ⁽⁵⁾. One might also practice internal qigong by cultivating qi to heal ailments. However, due to lack of scientific evidence and uniform approaches, qigong is rarely used to treat disease in the Western world.

As a form of exercise, qigong can be classified by the level of motion. Static qigong refers to meditation in sitting, standing, and lying-down postures. Dynamic qigong refers to moving meditation, which can also take on many forms ⁽⁴⁾. Simplified versions, such as the Eight Brocades have been developed so they can be taught to, and practiced, by a large number of people with minimal training. These are also used in clinical studies because they have standardized movements with reproducible effects.

Qi gong, as well as yoga and tai chi, are recommended by an international expert panel for management of knee osteoarthritis ⁽³⁶⁾. In several small studies, regular qigong practice has been shown to benefit patients with hypertension ⁽⁶⁾, fibromyalgia ^(7) (41), chronic fatigue ⁽⁸⁾, tinnitus ⁽⁹⁾, and other chronic conditions ⁽¹⁰⁾. In addition, it may improve sleep quality, climacteric symptoms, muscle endurance, waist-to-hip ratio, and BMI in middle-aged women ^(11) (12).

Qigong may be beneficial for cardiopulmonary rehabilitation ^(18) (19). It improved respiratory function and endurance in patients with COPD ^(13) (49), cardiorespiratory function and expiratory capacity in patients with hypertension ⁽¹⁴⁾, and reduced stress along with improving sleep quality, activity levels, immune response, balance, and pain in older adults ^{(15) (16) (17) (42)}. A meta-analysis found qigong has benefit as a therapy option in Parkinson’s disease to increase motor function, walking ability, and balance ⁽⁵⁰⁾. Neurocognitive benefits observed in the elderly after qigong include increased processing speed, attention, and hippocampal volume along with reduced inflammation ⁽⁵¹⁾. Data on whether qigong is effective against depression are inconclusive ^(33) (43).

In oncology settings, qigong may serve as a useful complementary therapy. Clinical studies indicate positive effects on anxiety, mood, depression, and quality of life ^{(1) (20) (34)}, and on physical symptoms such as pain, numbness, dizziness, fatigue, inflammation, and cognitive function ^{(1) (21) (22) (45) (48)}. Improvements in physical activity patterns and BMI have also been reported ⁽³⁷⁾. Preliminary data suggest qigong may help reduce upper limb lymphedema in breast cancer survivors ⁽³⁵⁾, alleviate persistent post-surgical pain ⁽⁴⁷⁾, and confer psychosocial benefits ⁽⁴⁶⁾. In patients with advanced lung and GI cancers, medical qigong had effects similar to strength training on psychological function, but not exercise capacity ⁽³⁸⁾. More research is needed to not only confirm these findings, but to fully elucidate the mechanisms by which qigong exerts its positive effects.

Qigong is generally considered a low-intensity exercise. Patients should be aware that it is not a cancer treatment per se, but can be practiced to help alleviate symptoms associated with cancer and its treatments. Those who are weak, particularly due to chemotherapy, should consult a physician before taking on more strenuous forms of qigong ⁽²⁷⁾.