Managing stress and anxiety through qigong exercise in healthy adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract

BackgroundAn increasing number of studies have documented the effectiveness of qigong exercise in helping people reduce psychological stress and anxiety, but there is a scarcity of systematic reviews evaluating evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted among healthy subjects.MethodsThirteen databases were searched for RCTs from their inception through June 2013. Effects of qigong exercise were pooled across trials. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) were calculated for the pooled effects. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I 2 test. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane criteria.ResultsSeven RCTs met the inclusion criteria. Two RCTs suggested that qigong exercise immediately relieved anxiety among healthy adults, compared to lecture attendance and structured movements only. Four RCTs suggested qigong exercise relieved anxiety (pooled SMD = -0.75; 95% CI, -1.11 to -0.40), and three RCTs suggested that qigong exercise reduced stress (pooled SMD = -0.88; 95% CI, -1.22 to -0.55) among healthy subjects following one to three months of qigong practice, compared to wait-list controls.ConclusionsThe available evidence suggests that qigong exercise reduces stress and anxiety in healthy adults. However, given the limited number of RCTs and their methodological flaws, further rigorously designed RCTs are needed.

A meta-meta-analysis of the effect of physical activity on depression and anxiety in non-clinical adult populations

“…Given the likely reciprocal nature of the relation of physical activity and mental health, enhancing mental health through increasing physical activity may have the added benefit of enhancing people's motivation to maintain regular physical activity (Cuijpers, de Wit, & Taylor, 2014;Jerstad, Boutelle, Ness, & Stice, 2010). M a n u s c r i p t A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t META-META 18 (Wang et al, 2014 …”

“…One metaanalysis received a low quality rating, leaving a total of six meta-analysis for the final calculation. Two of the included meta-analyses were on depression (Conn, 2010b;Rethorst et al, 2009), with the remaining four on anxiety (Conn, 2010a; Petruzzello et al, 1991;Wang et al, 2014;Wipfli et al, 2008). One meta-analysis reported separate effects for supervised and unsupervised physical activity programs on depression outcomes (Conn, 2010b) and one metaanalysis reported separate effects for state and trait anxiety outcomes (Petruzzello et al, 1991); therefore the final meta-meta-analysis consisted of three depression outcomes (from two metaanalyses) and five anxiety outcome findings (from four meta-analyses).…”

“…Conn (2010a) included 15 RCTs with 2,786 participants. Wang et al (2014) focused on the effects of qigong and included 4 RCTs with 398 participants. Wipfli et al (2008) included 48 RCTs with 3,324 participants.…”

Exercise as medicine – evidence for prescribing exercise as therapy in 26 different chronic diseases

“…A systematic Review from 2014 (Wang et al., ) suggests that qigong exercise immediately relieve anxiety among healthy adults, compared to lecture attendance and structured movements only.…”

T’ai Chi and Qigong: Validated Health Benefits

“…48 Researchers who conducted a meta-analysis of seven RCTs suggested that 1-3 months of qigong practice reduced stress and anxiety in healthy adults, compared to wait-list controls. 49 An RCT of qigong twice per week for 10 weeks showed that the practice improved psychologic states and immunity in first-year nursing and midwifery students, as measured by psychometric tests and biochemical markers of stress. 50 Another RCT showed that a Laughing Qigong program (in which laughter is consciously directed) produced significantly improved mood and decreased cortisol levels (a marker of stress) in adolescents in an experimental group (n = 34), compared to controls (n = 33).…”