Qigong Fatigue Study

Qigong is a traditional Chinese exercise modality. It aligns breathing, mental focus (or awareness) and movement for purposes of exercise, meditation and balancing of the “qi,” or life energy, in healing. It emphasizes and cultivates a calm and relaxing state of mind. At the Block Center, qigong exercises are often integrated into the physical activity component of our patients’ individualized treatment plans.  

A study recently published in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship compared qigong with stretching classes in the framework of a randomized, controlled trial. The main goal of the study was to evaluate whether qigong helps with fatigue – a common problem for many cancer patients, both during and after treatment – in prostate cancer survivors. Many studies have been done on ways to address this fatigue; of special interest to our clinicians are non-drug interventions that may be helpful. 

This study was designed especially well, which makes its conclusions even stronger than most of the previous studies that have looked at exercise for cancer patients. 40 men (average age 74) with prostate cancer were randomized to take either qigong classes or controlled stretching classes twice a week for 12 weeks. Both types of classes were an hour long, included sitting and standing exercises, and had DVDs to encourage participants to practice at home. One particular strength of the study was the fact that the control group was doing an exercise intervention at the same time as the qigong group. This ensures that it is not simply an increase in activity that would cause any beneficial effects from the qigong classes, but rather something unique about the qigong itself as an exercise system.

Indeed, the study’s authors did find beneficial effects specifically from qigong in these cancer patients. By the end of the study, they had significantly less fatigue than the control group. Their distress scores on a standardized questionnaire also improved more than the participants in the stretching group.  Other study outcomes that were also interesting:  the qigong class had significantly better attendance rates than the stretching class, and a non-significantly higher number of qigong participants stayed in the study for all 12 weeks. 

Qigong is a very helpful form of exercise for cancer patients, and it can be easily individualized to help patients with a wide variety of physical limitations. There are several different schools, or styles, of qigong teaching, each of which emphasizes a slightly different methodology. Sheilla Shanes, our qigong instructor, individualizes exercise programs by drawing from three different styles of qigong exercise. She finds it very helpful for patients with a variety of physical limitation, such as breathing problems or strength, or with challenges such as muscle stiffness. Sheilla reports that the breathing exercises are especially beneficial for many of our patients. 

At the Block Center, we believe the right fitness regimen is important for all cancer patients. However, if you’re currently undergoing treatment for cancer, we suggest you consult your physician before undertaking any new exercise program. 

For more information on The Block Center for Integrative Cancer Treatment, call (847) 230-9107 or visit BlockMD.com.