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Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine logoLink to Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine
. 2014 Feb 1;20(2):79–86. doi: 10.1089/acm.2013.0087

Effectiveness of T'ai Chi and Qigong on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Meng Ding 1,,2, Wei Zhang 3,✉, Kejian Li 2, Xianhai Chen 3
PMCID: PMC3924809  PMID: 23961940

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of Chinese traditional exercise such as t'ai chi and qigong (TCQ) on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: All prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trials, published in English or Chinese and involving the use of TCQ by patients with COPD, were searched in 10 electronic databases from their respective inceptions to July 2012. The methodological quality of all studies was assessed using the Jadad score. The selection of studies, data extraction, and quality assessment were performed independently by two raters.

Results: In the results, 10 trials met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. The meta-analysis demonstrated that compared with no exercise, TCQ had significant effects on 6-minute walk distance, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), predicted FEV1 percentage, and St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire score. There were no significant differences in all outcomes between TCQ and other exercise training except 6-minute walk distance.

Conclusions: In conclusion, TCQ might be beneficial with respect to physical performance, lung function, remission of dyspnea, and quality of life in patients with COPD; however, caution is needed to draw a firm conclusion because of the low methodological quality of the included trials.

Introduction

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common respiratory disease that impacts the health and quality of life of patients worldwide. According to a report of the World Health Organization, 64 million people had COPD throughout the world in 2004, and more than three million people died of COPD in 2005.1 An 8.2% overall prevalence of COPD in people >40 years of age was demonstrated by a cross-sectional survey in China between 2002 and 2004.2 Patients with COPD frequently complain of dyspnea and exercise limitation and become trapped in a vicious cycle of inactivity, initiated by breathlessness.3,4 Exercise training, the important part of pulmonary rehabilitation, has been shown to improve dyspnea and health status and decrease health care use.3

T'ai chi and qigong (TCQ) are both Chinese ancient forms of exercise with similar components such as movement of the extremities, meditation, and breathing control. TCQ has been practiced widely in recent decades to promote mental and physical health and to prevent chronic disease among individuals of all ages.5–7 Recently, TCQ was recommended for use in COPD rehabilitation, and some clinical trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of TCQ on patients with COPD. Therefore, it was necessary and timely to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize and critically evaluate clinical trial evidence for the effectiveness of TCQ as complementary therapy for COPD.

Methods

Database source

Databases searched from their respective inceptions to July 2012 included PubMed, EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Literature Allied Health (CINAHL), Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED), Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), REHABDATA, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Medical Database (CMD), Taiwan academic online, and the Cochrane Library. The following search terms were used: Tai Chi or Taiji or Tai Chi Chuan or Qigong or mind–body exercise and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD. Two raters performed the data searches (M.D. and K.L.).

Inclusion criteria

Trials were included if they (1) were randomized controlled trials; (2) included patients with COPD without restrictions of gender and age; (3) used Chinese traditional exercise such as t'ai chi or qigong or t'ai chi combined with qigong as the main intervention; (4) used nonexercise in control groups or other physical exercise training in comparison groups; and (5) published peer-reviewed articles or dissertations that used the English or Chinese language. Trials were excluded if they (1) used qigong that only involved breathing techniques and meditation but no physical activity; and (2) included patients with an acute exacerbation. Furthermore, observational studies, case series, and case reports were excluded.

Data extraction and analysis

All studies were reviewed and the data were extracted independently by two raters (M.D. and K.L.), and disagreements were resolved by seeking the opinion of the third rater (W.Z.). For each eligible study, the following information was extracted and recorded: (1) name of first author, (2) year of publication, (3) intervention and control group information, (4) duration of intervention, (5) sample size, (6) participants' demographic characteristics, (7) primary and all other, outcome measures, and (8) results. The mean change of outcome measures compared with a baseline was used to assess the differences between the intervention groups and the control or comparison groups. The pooled effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using the Cochrane Collaboration's software (Review Manager [RevMan] Version 5.1 for Windows, downloaded from http://ims.cochrane.org/revman/download). Weighted mean differences (WMDs) and the random effects analysis model were used for continuous data. The χ2 test and the Higgins I2 test were used to assess heterogeneity.

Quality assessment

The methodological quality of all studies was assessed using the Jadad score.8 The Jadad score was calculated by assessing three criteria: description of randomization, blinding, and withdrawals; the score ranges from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 5 points. Taking into account that patients cannot be blinded to the treatment, one point was given for blinding if the outcome assessor was blinded. The trial with a higher Jadad score had a higher methodological quality. Two raters performed the quality assessment independently (M.D. and K.L.). Disagreements were resolved by seeking the opinion of the third rater (W.Z.).

Results

Search results

A total of 507 potentially relevant articles were identified by the database searches. After 59 duplicates were removed, a total of 404 reviews and irrelevant articles were excluded through reading the titles and abstracts. Finally, by screening the full text, 10 trials (three published in English and seven published in Chinese) from 14 articles met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed (Fig. 1).

FIG. 1.

FIG. 1.

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Flowchart of articles selection process. *There were seven articles that referred to the same trial (two, two, and three articles for each trial, respectively). COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; RCTs, randomized controlled trials.

Trials characteristics

A total of 718 patients whose average age was more than 60 years participated in the 10 selected trials. The patients were recruited from outpatients or health care centers. Most of the trials used qigong as the experimental intervention; furthermore, two trials9,10 and one trial11 used t'ai chi and t'ai chi combined with qigong, respectively. All the included trials except one12 described the details involving the duration, frequencies, and session length of the interventions. Seven trials measured the outcomes for 3 months,9–15 while the other three trials measured outcomes for 6 months16,17 (Zhao, D.X. Rehabilitation of Modified Exercise Prescription for Elderly Patients with Stable COPD [in Chinese] 2011). The frequencies varied from one session per day and 2 days per week11,18 to two sessions per day and 7 days per week.15 One trial made the patients self-practice t'ai chi and qigong daily after the supervised sessions.11,18 Each session lasted from 20 to 60 minutes across the different trials. The interventions of control or comparison groups in all included trials were education, breathing technique, and walking combined with or without breathing technique. The patients of all trials received the usual pharmacological treatment in addition to the experimental intervention. The characteristics of the included trials are listed in Table 1.

Table 1.

Characteristics of the Trials Included in This Review

First author, year Patients (total n), age, (mean [SD]/range), if reported Jadad score Experimental intervention, duration, sessions per week, time per session Control or comparison intervention Published language
Yao (2004) 80, 56–70 1 T'ai chi, 3 months, 1 session per day, 7 days per week, 30 minutes per session Breathing technique Chinese
Chen (2008) 40, 71.76 (7.31) 2 Qigong, 3 months, NR Education Chinese
Feng (2009) 60, 62 (5) 2 Qigong, 6 months, 2 sessions per day, 5 days per week, 45 minutes per session N Chinese
Chen (2009) 60, 70.16 (9.45) 2 Qigong, 3 months, 1 session per day, 7 days per week, 30 minutes per session Education and breathing technique Chinese
Wang (2010) 63, 73.52 (1.22) 2 Qigong, 3 months, 2 sessions per day, 7 days per week, 30 minutes per session Breathing technique Chinese
Zhu (2010) 74, 53.53 (10.05) 2 Qigong, 3 months, 1 session per day, 7 days per week, 45 minutes per session Control group: N, other exercise group: walking Chinese
Chan (2010) 206, 71.7 (8.2) 4 T'ai chi and Qigong, 3 months, 1 session per day, 2 days per week, 60 minutes per session Control group: routine activities, other exercise group: walking and breathing technique English
Yeh (2010) 10, 65 (6) 4 T'ai chi, 3 months, 1 session per day, 5 days per week, 60 minutes per session N English
Ng (2011) 80, 70.75 (1.05) 3 Qigong, 6 months, 1 session per day, 4 days per week, 45 minutes per session Breathing technique and walking English
Zhao (2011) 45, 65–82 2 Qigong, 6 months, 2 sessions per day, 7 days per week, 20 minutes per session Education Chinese
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SD, standard deviation; N, no exercise training; NR, not reported.

Methodological quality

The range of Jadad score of the trials included in this review was from 1 to 4 (average score, 2.4). Seven trials were of low methodological quality;9,12–16 (Zhao, D.X. Rehabilitation of Modified Exercise Prescription for Elderly Patients with Stable COPD [in Chinese] 2011) in contrast, the other three trials were of high methodological quality.10,11,17 All the trials described the methods of randomization, and only one17 reported details on allocation concealment. Two trials10,11 mentioned the blinding to assessor for data collection. Three trials10,11,17 reported the using of intention-to-treat analysis.

Outcomes

Various outcomes including physical performance, lung function, dyspnea, and quality of life (QoL) were used in eligible trials of this review. The outcomes with same measurement in different trials were pooled in meta-analysis. The outcomes that could not be pooled in meta-analysis were used to calculate the effect size and are listed in Table 2.

Table 2.

Outcomes Unable to Be Pooled in Meta-Analysis

First author, year Outcomes Experimental intervention, sample size Control or comparison intervention, sample size Effect size, 95% CI Favors TCQ
  Physical performance        
Chen (2008) 6-minute walk test Qigong, 21 Education, 19 NA Yes
Yeh (2010) 6-minute walk test T'ai chi, 5 N, 5 NA Yes
  Timed up and Goa     NA Yes
  Dyspnea        
Yeh (2010) UCSD SOB Questionairea T'ai chi, 5 N, 5 NA Yes
  CRQ: Dyspneab     NA Yes
Ng (2011) CRQ: Dyspneab Qigong, 40 Walking and breathing technique, 40 0.04 [−0.44, 0.52], p=0.87 Yes
  Quality of life        
Chan (2010) SGRQ: total scorea TCQ, 70 Walking and breathing technique, 69 −4.30 [−9.54, 0.94], p=0.11 Yes
  SGRQ: symptoms scorea     −2.40 [−8.65, 3.85], p=0.45 Yes
  SGRQ: activity scorea     −8.00 [−14.74, −1.26], p=0.02 Yes
  SGRQ: impacts scorea     −2.80 [−8.73, 3.13], p=0.35 Yes
Yeh (2010) COPD Self-Efficacy scoreb T'ai chi, 5 N, 5 NA Yes
  CRQ: Fatigueb     NA Yes
  CRQ: Emotionb     NA Yes
  CRQ: Masteryb     NA Yes
Ng (2011) SF-36 GHb Qigong, 40 Walking and breathing technique, 40 5.40 [−2.68, 13.48], p=0.19 Yes
  SF-36 MHb     −3.00 [−10.81, 4.81], p=0.45 No
  CRQ: Fatigueb     0.18 [−0.30, 0.66], p=0.46 Yes
  CRQ: Emotionb     0.31 [−0.15, 0.77], p=0.19 Yes
  CRQ: Masteryb     0.27 [−0.21, 0.75], p=0.27 Yes
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a

Lower score more favorable.

b

Higher score more favorable.

CI, confidence interval; TCQ, t'ai chi and qigong; UCSD SOB, University of California, San Diego, shortness of breath; SGRQ, St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CRQ, Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire; SF-36, 36-Item Short Form Health Survey; GH, General Health; MH, Mental Health; NA, Not applicable; N, no exercise training.

Physical performance

Six-minute walk test

T'ai chi and qigong versus nonexercise

Of the 10 trials, seven10,12,13,15,16,18 (Zhao, D.X. Rehabilitation of Modified Exercise Prescription for Elderly Patients with Stable COPD [in Chinese] 2011) (n=399 patients) compared the distance of the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) between TCQ intervention and nonexercise. Two of seven trials10,12 could not be pooled in the meta-analysis because they did not provide the correct form of data. An attempt was made to contact the authors via e-mail to obtain the applicable data but failed. However, two trials reported that there was an improvement in 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) after 3 months of t'ai chi or qigong exercise compared with the nonexercise group (Table 2). Five of seven trials showed heterogeneity when they were pooled in a meta-analysis (χ2=26.89, I2=85%). The 6MWD effect size of one trial15 was obviously higher than the other four trials; furthermore, the other four trials showed homogeneity when this particular was removed. It was found that the trial showing the greatest improvement in 6MWD involved maintaining the exercise intensity of qigong within target range by monitoring the participants' heart rates; however, the other four trials did not report using any method to maintain the exercise intensity. Thus, a subgroup analysis was undertaken according to the particular exercise intensity in the intervention. Two subgroups—one named exercise intensity uncontrolled and another one named exercise intensity controlled—were established (Fig. 2). A pooled effect size of four trials13,16,18 (Zhao, D.X. Rehabilitation of Modified Exercise Prescription for Elderly Patients with Stable COPD [in Chinese] 2011) showed that TCQ intervention with uncontrolled exercise intensity could increase the length of 6MWD compared to nonexercise (WMD, 25.19 m; 95% CI, 12.02–38.37 m; p<0.001), and qigong intervention with controlled exercise intensity showed a higher effect size in one trial15 (WMD, 110.40 m; 95% CI, 80.52–140.28 m; p<0.001).

FIG. 2.

FIG. 2.

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Meta-analysis of 6-minute walking distance, t'ai chi and qigong (TCQ) versus nonexercise. CI, confidence interval; SD, standard deviation.

T'ai chi and qigong versus walking exercise

Three trials (n=272 patients) estimated the effects of TCQ on 6MWD compared with walking exercise. A subgroup analysis was also undertaken because of the diversity of TCQ intervention (Fig. 3). A pooled effect size from the data of two trials17,18 demonstrated that TCQ intervention could improve the length of 6MWD compared to walking exercise when the exercise intensity was not controlled (WMD, 22.08 m; 95% CI, 4.84–39.32 m; p=0.01). However, TCQ intervention with the controlled exercise intensity did not show any improvement of 6MWD compared with walking exercise in one trial15 (WMD, −16.70 m; 95% CI, −43.58–10.18 m; p=0.22).

FIG. 3.

FIG. 3.

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Meta-analysis of 6-minute walking distance, t'ai chi and qigong (TCQ) versus walking. CI, confidence interval; SD, standard deviation.

Timed up and go

One trial10 with a small sample size (n=10 patients) evaluated the benefit on the timed up and go test. Regrettably, this trial provided the data in the form of median and range rather than mean and standard difference, so it was not possible to calculate the effect size of the data. According to the report of the trial, t'ai chi intervention could shorten the length of timed up and go compared with the nonexercise, but the difference between the two groups was not significant (p=0.44).

Lung function

Forced expiratory volume in 1 second

T'ai chi and qigong versus nonexercise

Six trials13,15,16,18,19 (Zhao, D.X. Rehabilitation of Modified Exercise Prescription for Elderly Patients with Stable COPD [in Chinese] 2011) (n=389 patients) estimated the effects of TCQ on the improvement in volume of FEV1 compared with nonexercise. We also undertook a subgroup analysis because of the heterogeneity that proceeded from the difference of details of intervention. A pooled effect size of five trials11,12,16,18 showed (Zhao, D.X. Rehabilitation of Modified Exercise Prescription for Elderly Patients with Stable COPD [in Chinese] 2011) that TCQ intervention without exercise intensity controlled could increase the volume of FEV1 compared to nonexercise intervention (WMD, 0.09 L; 95% CI, 0.01–0.17 L; p=0.02), and qigong intervention with exercise intensity controlled had a higher effect size on improvement in volume of FEV1, but the difference was not significant (WMD, 0.27 liter; 95% CI, −0.05–0.59 L; p=0.10)15 (Fig. 4).

FIG. 4.

FIG. 4.

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Meta-analysis of the volume of forced expiratory volume in 1 second, t'ai chi and qigong (TCQ) versus nonexercise. CI, confidence interval; SD, standard deviation.

Six trials9,13,15,16,19 (Zhao, D.X. Rehabilitation of Modified Exercise Prescription for Elderly Patients with Stable COPD [in Chinese] 2011) (n=332 patients) estimated the effects of TCQ on improvement of the FEV1 percentage predicted compared to nonexercise. A pooled effect size of five trials9,13,16,19 (Zhao, D.X. Rehabilitation of Modified Exercise Prescription for Elderly Patients with Stable COPD [in Chinese] 2011) showed that TCQ intervention without exercise intensity controlled had a better effect on the FEV1 percentage predicted compared with nonexercise (WMD, 2.82% predicted; 95% CI, 0.29–5.34% predicted; p=0.03). In one trial,15 qigong intervention with exercise intensity controlled showed a higher effect size on improvement of FEV1 percentage predicted (WMD, 12.56% predicted; 95% CI, 5.25–19.87% predicted; p<0.001) (Fig. 5).

FIG. 5.

FIG. 5.

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Meta-analysis of forced expiratory volume in 1 second percent predicted, t'ai chi and qigong (TCQ) versus nonexercise. CI, confidence interval; SD, standard deviation.

T'ai chi and qigong versus walking exercise

Two trials15,18 (n=192 patients) compared the effects on the improvement of volume of FEV1 between TCQ and walking exercise. A trial with uncontrolled exercise intensity and the other one with exercise intensity controlled both showed that TCQ improved the volume of FEV1 compared with walking exercise; however, the differences were not significant (exercise intensity uncontrolled: WMD, 0.06 L; 95% CI, −0.07–0.19 L; p=0.36; exercise intensity controlled: WMD, 0.08 L; 95% CI, −0.21–0.37 L; p=0.59).

Dyspnea

T'ai chi and qigong versus nonexercise

Two trials9,18 (n=217 patients) evaluated the improvement of dyspnea using the Borg Scale; the pooled effect size showed that TCQ intervention had a positive effect on remission of dyspnea compared with nonexercise (WMD, −0.82; 95% CI, −1.32 to −0.29; p=0.002). A trial10 (n=10 patients) evaluated the improvement of dyspnea using the dyspnea section of the Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire (CRQ); it reported that the TCQ intervention showed an improvement in symptoms of dyspnea compared with nonexercise, but the difference was not significant. Moreover, an improvement in symptoms of dyspnea after the TCQ intervention was also reported in this trial using the Shortness of Breath Questionnaire (University of California, San Diego), but the difference was not significant with this questionnaire either (Table 2).

T'ai chi and qigong versus walking exercise

One trial18 (n=139) reported that the TCQ intervention showed a greater improvement in symptoms of dyspnea compared with walking using the Borg Scale, but the difference was not significant (WMD, −0.44; 95% CI, −0.91 to −0.03; p=0.07). The improvement of dyspnea after the TCQ intervention was reported in another trial using the dyspnea section of CRQ, but the difference was not significant (Table 2).

Quality of life

T'ai chi and qigong versus nonexercise

Three trials11,14,20 (n=260 patients) estimated the effects of TCQ versus nonexercise using the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). The pooled effect size showed that TCQ had a lower SGRQ score than nonexercise (SGRQ total: WMD, −4.67; 95% CI, −8.21 to −1.14; p=0.009; SGRQ symptoms: WMD, −5.16; 95% CI, −10.15 to −0.18; p=0.008; SGRQ activity: WMD, −5.09; 95% CI, −10.46–0.29; p=0.01; SGRQ impacts: WMD, −4.19; 95% CI, −9.74–1.37; p=0.05). The results of the COPD Self-Efficacy score and CRQ in one trial10 favored t'ai chi, but the data were not applicable and the differences were not significant (Table 2).

T'ai chi and qigong versus walking exercise

One trial11 (n=139 patients) compared the differences in the effects on SGRQ score of both TCQ and walking exercise. It was shown that TCQ could reduce the scores in each component of the SGRQ to a greater degree than walking exercise, but, apart from the activity score, the differences were not significant. Another trial17 (n=80 patients) estimated the effects of qigong on CRQ compared with walking exercise. Differences in scores for each component of the questionnaire favored qigong, but the differences were not significant. Furthermore, the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) was used to evaluate the effect on QoL in this trial; the SF-36 score for general health favored qigong. In contrast, the SF-36 score for mental health favored walking exercise, but the differences were not significant (Table 2).

Discussion

In recent decades, 6MWT has been used as a simple, reliable, and valid assessment for exercise tolerance in COPD.21–23 Some researchers have demonstrated that 6MWD is a better predictor of physical activity and mortality in patients with COPD than other methods of assessment.3,24,25 Many researchers have reported that TCQ might be beneficial for improving exercise tolerance in both healthy people and those with chronic diseases.26–30 According to the results of the present review, TCQ appears to demonstrate a greater improvement in physical activity such as exercise tolerance than intervention without exercise training. However, it cannot be confirmed that TCQ are the better complementary treatments for physical activity in COPD rehabilitation than other exercise training forms. A recent meta-analysis result also demonstrated that t'ai chi was not more beneficial for improving aerobic capacity in healthy or sick people than other physical exercises.31 Therefore, it is necessary to conduct trials with larger sample sizes and higher methodological quality to detect any advantages that TCQ might demonstrate for improvement in physical capacity compared with other exercise trainings in patients with COPD.

In this review, the pooled effect sizes showed that TCQ might be more beneficial for improving lung function in people with COPD than nonexercise. However, one researcher pointed out that the only successful intervention conclusively shown to attenuate the loss of lung function over time is smoking cessation.32 In addition, one meta-analysis of the effect of exercise training on lung function in patients with COPD demonstrated that the pooled effect of resistance training on FEV1 was neither clinically nor statistically significant.33 Furthermore, the follow-up durations of the trials in our review range from 3 to 6 months; the loss of lung function due to pathophysiological process of COPD might not be demonstrable in this short follow-up duration. Therefore, it remains unclear whether improvements gained in lung function due to TCQ can be maintained in the longer term. Further examination of the pulmonary functions in COPD patients over longer periods of time is recommended.

Dyspnea is the main symptom in COPD, and this results in inactivity and loss of QoL.34 Exercise training intervention may reduce the sensitivity to dyspnea.35 In the present review, a pooled effect from two trials shows that TCQ was more beneficial in reducing dyspnea in patients with COPD than nonexercise; however, there was no reduction in symptoms of dyspnea when TCQ was compared with nonexercise in another two trials. In another trial, it could not be confirmed whether or not TCQ was more effective at improving symptoms of dyspnea than other exercise training. Thus, firmer evidence needs to be provided through further clinical trials.

Some research demonstrated that TCQ might improve the QoL of the people with other chronic diseases such as heart failure, post-stroke, and cancer.36–38 In this review, TCQ may show a greater improvement in QoL in patients with COPD than nonexercise, based on the pooled result. However, it is unclear whether TCQ is more beneficial than other exercise trainings in improving QoL for COPD.

Some researches considered that the exercise intensity of TCQ is low to moderate through the estimation of the heart rate and energy expenditure of TCQ training.39–42 However, one review indicated that repeated high-intensity exercise stimulus might be beneficial for the patients with COPD due to the improvement of the cardiovascular function and the oxidative capacity of the skeletal muscle.35 Therefore, although TCQ might be suitable for the COPD patients who have low exercise capacity, it might not provide an optimal effect because of the insufficient exercise intensity. Therefore, we consider that if practitioners could try to enhance the exercise intensity of TCQ by using some means, the effects of TCQ on exercise capacity in patients with COPD might be more marked. In the present review, the researchers of one trial mentioned that they tried to keep the exercise intensity within target range by monitoring heart rate and the increase in movement of extremities; and improvement in 6MWD and FEV1 (percent predicted) in this trial were higher than other trials. The results of this trial might support our consideration; however, a firm conclusion could not be drawn because of the caution of bias due to the low methodological quality in this trial. Rigorous trials with larger samples should be conducted to determine the effectiveness of TCQ with controlled exercise intensity for COPD in the future.

There were several limitations to this systematic review. First, the low methodological quality of the included studies might affect the strength of the evidence. Especially, the poor-quality trials consistently reported positive results for all outcomes. Secondly, conference articles and unpublished trials were not searched, so publication bias is of concern. Thirdly, TCQ is popular in Japan and Korea, and some relevant studies may be published in Japanese or Korean literature. However, databases in Japan or Korea were not searched. Finally, most patients in the included trials are Chinese; they might like to participate in TCQ training because of the acceptance of traditional Chinese culture. It is possible that the willingness to participate in TCQ training is impacted by differences in national and ethnic cultures and customs.

Conclusions

TCQ might be beneficial with respect to physical performance, lung function, remission of dyspnea, and quality of life in patients with COPD; however, caution is needed about drawing a firm conclusion because of the low methodological quality of the included trials. More rigorous randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes and longer treatment periods will be required in the future. Overall, TCQ are effective in COPD.

Acknowledgments

This review was supported by Taishan scholars project (ts20110819), independent innovation foundation of Shandong University (IIFSDU, 2012JC035) and health care Qigong project of Chinese General Administration of Sport. The authors thank Dr. Edwin Green for his help with translation.

Authors' Contributions

Meng Ding and Wei Zhang designed this review. Meng Ding and Kejian Li performed the article searches, data extractions, and meta-analysis. Meng Ding, Wei Zhang, and Xianhai Chen interpreted the results.

Disclosure Statement

No competing financial interests exist.

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