Efficacy of Liuzijue Qigong in Individuals with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Remission

Objectives To investigate the effectiveness of a 6‐month L iuzijue qigong ( LQG ) program in promoting physical and psychosocial function in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ). Design Single‐blind, randomized controlled trial. Setting Seven hospital respiratory care centers in B eijing. Participants Individuals with COPD (N = 126; mean age 71.1 ± 2.7, range 65–85). Methods Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: LQG (n = 63) and control (n = 63). Subjects in the LQG group received a LQG program consisting of four 45‐minute sessions each week and daily walking for 30 minutes for 6 months. Control subjects walked daily for 30 minutes. Data collection was performed at baseline, at 6 weeks, and at 6 months. Primary outcomes involved functional capacity, and secondary outcomes involved quality of life. Results The LQG group had greater improvements in the 6‐minute walk test ( P  =   .02); specific airway conductance ( P  = .02); monitored functional task evaluation ( P  = .04); Medical Outcomes Study 36‐item Short‐Form Health Survey ( SF ‐36; general health ( P  < .001), mental health ( P  = .03)); Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire (dyspnea ( P  = .05), emotion ( P  = .05), and mastery ( P  = .04) at 6‐month follow‐up. After 6 months, the control group had significant improvement only on the SF ‐36 mental health ( P  = .02). Conclusion LQG promoted functional capacity and quality of life in older adults with COPD at 6 months and is a good alternative home exercise program for older adults in the rehabilitation of COPD .