Randomized controlled trial of Qigong/Tai Chi Easy on cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer survivors.

BACKGROUND: Many breast cancer survivors experience fatigue, mood, and sleep disturbances. PURPOSE: This study aims to compare a meditative movement practice, Qigong/Tai Chi Easy (QG/TCE) with sham Qigong (SQG), testing effects of meditation/breath aspects of QG/TCE on breast cancer survivors' persistent fatigue and other symptoms. METHODS: This double-blind, randomized controlled trial tested 12 weeks of QG/TCE versus SQG on fatigue, depression, and sleep among 87 postmenopausal, fatigued breast cancer survivors, stages 0-III, age 40-75. RESULTS: Fatigue decreased significantly in the QG/TCE group compared to control at post-intervention (p = 0.005) and 3 months follow-up (p = 0.024), but not depression and sleep quality. Improvement occurred over time for both interventions in depression and sleep quality (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: QG/TCE showed significant improvement over time compared to SQG for fatigue, but not depression or sleep. Both QG/TCE and SQG showed improvement for two prevalent symptoms among breast cancer survivors, depression and sleep dysfunction.

Measurement pilot study of the Meditative Movement Inventory (MMI).

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Mind-body practices that blend physical movement or postures with a focus on the breath and a meditative state to achieve deep states of relaxation have recently been characterized as a category of exercise called meditative movement and include practices such as Yoga, Tai Chi, and Qigong. Critical components of such practices have not been adequately assessed in research, leaving the fidelity of interventions in question; however, there is currently no set of relevant instruments. This article describes the development and preliminary validation of two subscales of the meditative movement inventory (MMI). METHODS: Questionnaire items were generated with input from expert practitioners, and tested in the context of an intervention study (N = 87) comparing Qigong/Tai Chi Easy (QG/TCE) to sham Qigong (SQG). RESULTS: Principal components analysis produced three substantively meaningful factors: breath focus (BF; e.g., "I was using my breathing to go into a relaxed state"; five items, alpha = .86), meditative connection (MC; e.g., "I was connected to something greater than myself"; four items, alpha = .90), and flowing motion (FM; e.g., "I moved in relaxed, fluid movements"; two items, alpha = .61, dropped from further analysis). Confirmatory factor analyses of the first two factors (BF and MC) to examine item reliabilities fit the data well providing positive results for construct composition and item reliabilities. CONCLUSIONS: The BF and MC subscales demonstrated initial strong properties for assessing the presence and strength of these factors in meditative movement intervention studies, whereas additional work is needed to further develop the FM subscale.

A comprehensive review of health benefits of qigong and tai chi.

OBJECTIVE: Research examining psychological and physiological benefits of Qigong and Tai Chi is growing rapidly. The many practices described as Qigong or Tai Chi have similar theoretical roots, proposed mechanisms of action, and expected benefits. Research trials and reviews, however, treat them as separate targets of examination. This review examines the evidence for achieving outcomes from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of both. DATA SOURCES: The key words Tai Chi, Taiji, Tai Chi Chuan, and Qigong were entered into electronic search engines for the Cumulative Index for Allied Health and Nursing (CINAHL), psychological literature (PsycINFO), PubMed, Cochrane database, and Google Scholar. STUDY INCLUSION CRITERIA: RCTs reporting on the results of Qigong or Tai Chi interventions and published in peer-reviewed journals from 1993 to 2007. DATA EXTRACTION: Country, type and duration of activity, number/type of subjects, control conditions, and reported outcomes were recorded for each study. SYNTHESIS: Outcomes related to Qigong and Tai Chi practice were identified and evaluated. RESULTS: Seventy-seven articles met the inclusion criteria. The nine outcome category groupings that emerged were bone density (n = 4), cardiopulmonary effects (n = 19), physical function (n = 16), falls and related risk factors (n = 23), quality of life (n = 17), self-efficacy (n = 8), patient-reported outcomes (n = 13), psychological symptoms (n = 27), and immune function (n = 6). CONCLUSIONS: Research has demonstrated consistent, significant results for a number of health benefits in RCTs, evidencing progress toward recognizing the similarity and equivalence of Qigong and Tai Chi.

Dissemination and benefits of a replicable Tai Chi and Qigong program for older adults.

Tai Chi and Qigong (TCQG) show promise for improving many health outcomes and are recommended for dissemination to older adults. A simplified, easy-to-replicate version of TCQG, "Tai Chi Easy," was tested using a train-the-trainer method to demonstrate feasibility of dissemination to a widespread population of older adults through community sites and achievement of perceived outcomes. Nonexpert facilitators known as "practice leaders" were trained to implement Tai Chi Easy sessions at 18 sites across the United States. Outstanding facilitator (100%) and participant (94%) adherence was achieved. With 330 completers, mean age 73 years, significant improvements were found for participants' perceived stress levels (P = .003). Sleep quality and energy/vitality were markedly improved. Eighty-nine percent enjoyed the program, 91% were committed to continue, and 67% stated that they had increased their weekly levels of physical activity. A train-the-facilitator model for Tai Chi Easy is easily disseminated to older adults and may promote a sustainable alternative exercise, yielding favorable quality of life benefits.

Meditative movement as a category of exercise: implications for research.

INTRODUCTION: Meditative Movement (MM) is proposed as a new category of exercise defined by (a) some form of movement or body positioning, (b) a focus on breathing, and (c) a cleared or calm state of mind with a goal of (d) deep states of relaxation. REVIEW: Two forms of exercise meeting this definition, Qigong and Tai Chi, are reviewed to examine health benefits found in the research literature, recap elements that should be assessed in MM research, and suggest where aspects of MM intersect with, and are distinguished from, conventional forms of exercise. RESULTS: Relevant dimensions of the key elements of MM, such as frequency, duration, type of movement, degree of exertion, description of breathing, and achievement of relaxed state are recommended to be clearly described and measured to consistently define the category across studies and clarify how MM may affect health outcomes in similar, and perhaps different, ways than conventional exercise. CONCLUSIONS: If these suggested standards are used, we will gain a better understanding of which elements are necessary for achieving targeted outcomes. Over time, as MM is studied as a category of exercise, research may progress more efficiently to define the domains of physiological and psychological benefit.