Correspondence to: Dr. Cecilia L.W. Chan, Centre on Behavioral Health, The University of Hong Kong, 5 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. Tel: (+852) 2831-5172, Fax: (+852) 2816-6710.

Search for more papers by this author

https://doi.org/10.1142/S0192415X1250084XCited by:22 (Source: Crossref)

Abstract

The objective of this review was to summarize and critically evaluate the clinical evidence of the effect of qigong exercise on immunity and its efficacy in the prevention or treatment of infectious diseases. Thirteen databases were searched from their respective inceptions through January 2011, and all controlled clinical trials of qigong exercise on immunity and infections were included. Quality and validity of the included studies were evaluated using standard scales. Seven studies including two randomized controlled trials (RCTs), two controlled clinical trials (CCTs) and three retrospective observational studies (ROSs) met the inclusion criteria. One study focused on functional measures of immunity (antigen-induced immunity) and six studies on enumerative parameters of immunity. No study on clinical symptoms relevant to infectious diseases could be identified. Overall, the included studies suggested favorable effects of qigong exercise on immunity, but the quality of research for most of the studies examined in this review was poor. Further rigorously designed studies are required, which should adhere to accepted standards of methodology for clinical trials.

Keywords:

References

S. Bayat-Movahedet al., Chin. J. Integr. Med. 14, 262 (2008), DOI: 10.1007/s11655-008-0262-6. Crossref, Medline, Web of Science, Google Scholar
N. C. Bishop , Immune Function in Sport and Exercise , British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences , ed. M. Gleeson ( Churchill Livingstone Elsevier , Edinburgh , 2006 ) . Google Scholar
I. Bultorov , A. Vlas and V. Vlas , Clinical benefits for chronic bronchitis by Qigong-therapy , The First World Symposium on Self-Healing and Consciousness Power ( 2001 ) . Google Scholar
V. E. Burns , Immune Function in Sport and Exercise , British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences , ed. M. Gleeson ( Churchill Livingstone Elsevier , Edinburgh , 2006 ) . Google Scholar
K. Chen and R. Yeung, Integr. Cancer Ther. 1, 345 (2002), DOI: 10.1177/1534735402238187. Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar
M. H. Goldrosen and S. E. Straus, Nat. Rev. Immunol. 4, 912 (2004), DOI: 10.1038/nri1486. Crossref, Medline, Web of Science, Google Scholar
Y. Higuchiet al., J. Int. Soc. Life Info. Sci. 15, 320 (1997). Google Scholar
Y. Higuchiet al., J. Int. Soc. Life Info. Sci. 18, 352 (2000). Web of Science, Google Scholar
Y. Higuchiet al., J. Int. Soc. Life Info. Sci. 20, 449 (2002). Web of Science, Google Scholar
L. Hoffman-Goetz and B. K. Pedersen, Immunol. Today 15, 382 (1994), DOI: 10.1016/0167-5699(94)90177-5. Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar
A. R. Jadadet al., Control Clin. Trials 17, 1 (1996), DOI: 10.1016/0197-2456(95)00134-4. Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar
R. Jahnkeet al., Am. J. Health Promot. 24, e1 (2010). Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar
J. Jang , A brief view of Kong Jin qigong's influence on immunological function , The 2nd International Conference on Qigong ( 1989 ) . Google Scholar
B. M. Jones, BMC Complement. Altern. Med. 1, 8 (2001), DOI: 10.1186/1472-6882-1-8. Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar
P. Jüni, D. G. Altman and M. Egger, BMJ 323, 42 (2001). Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar
H. Kimuraet al., J. Altern. Complement. Med. 11, 285 (2005), DOI: 10.1089/acm.2005.11.285. Crossref, Medline, Web of Science, Google Scholar
M. L. Kohutet al., Brain Behav. Immun. 19, 357 (2005), DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2004.12.002. Crossref, Medline, Web of Science, Google Scholar
M. S. Lee and H. Ryu, Int. J. Neurosci. 114, 1313 (2004). Medline, Web of Science, Google Scholar
M. S. Lee, C. W. Kang and H. Ryu, J. Altern. Complement. Med. 10, 681 (2004). Crossref, Medline, Web of Science, Google Scholar
M. S. Leeet al., Int. J. Neurosci. 114, 529 (2004). Medline, Web of Science, Google Scholar
M. S. Lee, M. H. Pittlerand and E. Ernst, J. Pain 10, 1121 (2009). Crossref, Medline, Web of Science, Google Scholar
M. S. Lee, M. K. Kim and H. Ryu, Int. J. Neurosci. 115, 1099 (2005), DOI: 10.1080/00207450590914347. Crossref, Medline, Web of Science, Google Scholar
M. S. Leeet al., Int. J. Neurosci. 116, 921 (2006), DOI: 10.1080/00207450600550477. Crossref, Medline, Web of Science, Google Scholar
M. S. Leeet al., Am. J. Chin. Med. 31, 141 (2003), DOI: 10.1142/S0192415X03000679. Link, Web of Science, Google Scholar
M. S. Leeet al., Am. J. Chin. Med. 31, 809 (2003), DOI: 10.1142/S0192415X03001442. Link, Web of Science, Google Scholar
J. M. Manzanequeet al., Med. Sci. Monit. 10, CR264 (2004). Medline, Web of Science, Google Scholar
G. E. Miller and S. Cohen, Health Psychol. 20, 47 (2001), DOI: 10.1037/0278-6133.20.1.47. Crossref, Medline, Web of Science, Google Scholar
B. H. Ng and H. W. Tsang, Psychophysiology 46, 257 (2009), DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8986.2008.00763.x. Crossref, Medline, Web of Science, Google Scholar
D. C. Nieman, Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 32, S406 (2000). Crossref, Medline, Web of Science, Google Scholar
Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine. Levels of Evidence (March 2009). Available at: http://www.cebm.net/index.aspx?o=1025. Accessed 10 November 2010 . Google Scholar
H. Ryuet al., Am. J. Chin. Med. 23, 27 (1995), DOI: 10.1142/S0192415X95000055. Link, Web of Science, Google Scholar
H. Ryuet al., Am. J. Chin. Med. 23, 139 (1995), DOI: 10.1142/S0192415X95000183. Link, Web of Science, Google Scholar
Y. J. Simet al., J. Infect. Dis. 200, 1434 (2009). Medline, Web of Science, Google Scholar
A. Vincentet al., Am. J. Chin. Med. 38, 695 (2010), DOI: 10.1142/S0192415X10008160. Link, Web of Science, Google Scholar
Z. Y. Wang, Chinese Qigong 6, 8 (1998). Google Scholar
P. A. Wrightet al., Am. J. Chin. Med. 39, 461 (2011), DOI: 10.1142/S0192415X11008968. Link, Web of Science, Google Scholar
J. M. Wu and D. H. Yu, J. Beijing Sport Univ. 29, 1074 (2006). Web of Science, Google Scholar
Z. L. Xuet al., J. Conval. Rehabil. 12, 53 (1997). Web of Science, Google Scholar
H. Yan , Research on the relationship between immunity of human body and physical training, taijiquan and qigong , The 2nd International Conference on Qigong ( 1989 ) . Google Scholar
F. Yang, Analysis of 270 cases of hepatitis B with hepatitis B powder in combination with qigong, The 4th World/Conference for Academic Exchange of Medical Qigong (1998) p. 142. Google Scholar
Y. Yanget al., Am. J. Chin. Med. 35, 597 (2007), DOI: 10.1142/S0192415X07005090. Link, Web of Science, Google Scholar
Y. Yanget al., Med. Sport. Sci. 52, 64 (2008), DOI: 10.1159/000134285. Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar
B. S. Yao, Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi 9, 341 (1989). Medline, Google Scholar
D. H. Yu and J. H. Wang, Chin. J. Sports Med. 26, 206 (2007). Web of Science, Google Scholar
Y. Yu et al. , Effect of self-controlling qigong therapy on the immune function of cancer patients , The 2nd World Conference for Academic Exchange of Medical Qigong ( 1993 ) . Google Scholar
Q. Yue et al. , Study of effect on normal human peripheral blood lymphocyte by Shaolin Nia Jin Ye Zhi Zhan Qigong , The 2nd International Conference on Qigong ( 1989 ) . Google Scholar
Y. Zhang , S. Luo and Y. Wu , Preliminary observation on influence of spontaneous Wuqinxi qigong on human immune function , The 2nd International Conference on Qigong ( 1989 ) . Google Scholar