Departments of Social Work and Social Administration, Faculty of Social Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; School of Chinese Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Departments of Social Work and Social Administration, Faculty of Social Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Int Rev Neurobiol. 2019;147:121-153. doi: 10.1016/bs.irn.2019.08.002.
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is often overlooked, has unclear etiology and no effective cure except some symptomatic treatments. Additionally, most people with CFS do not seek medical attention. Qigong exercise, an ancient Eastern body-mind-spirit practice, has been long practiced in Chinese communities and may powerfully trigger the self-healing process. Using full baseline data (n=1409), the average Hong Kong CFS respondent was found to be female, married, 42.5yo, highly educated and employed full-time, experiencing sleep disturbance (~95%), anxiety (>80%), and depressive symptoms (68%). Here, we summarized our previous studies to evaluate the potential of Qigong as a complementary and alternative therapy for CFS. Two randomized controlled trials were conducted (RCT1 n=137, RCT2 n=150). In both trials, extensive online questionnaires allowed individuals with CFS-like illness (i.e., symptoms match CFS, yet without clinical confirmation) to be identified. RCT1 included a 5-week intervention. The intervention in RCT2 was 8weeks. In RCT1 Qigong group had reduced fatigue (P<0.001) and depressive symptoms (P=0.002), and improved telomerase activity (P=0.029). An effective practice regimen was identified (≥3 days/week, at ≥30min/session). Methods were slightly adjusted for RCT2, which replicated RCT1 findings, and further documented improved subjective sleep quality (P=0.008) and adiponectin levels (P<0.05). A significant dose-response relationship was founded. Thus, Qigong exercise should be recognized as a possible standalone therapy and self-management skill in CFS. Strategies are needed to increase motivation for regular practice and to explore its possibility of self-management skill in brain health. Further clarity would come from studies comparing Qigong with other physical exercises.
慢性疲劳综合征（CFS）常被忽视，病因不明，除了一些对症治疗外，尚无有效治疗方法。此外，大多数 CFS 患者不会寻求医疗关注。气功是一种古老的身心练习，在中国社区中已经长期实践，可能会有力地触发自我疗愈过程。使用完整的基线数据（n=1409），发现平均香港 CFS 受访者为女性、已婚、42.5 岁、受过高等教育、全职工作，经历睡眠障碍（~95%）、焦虑症（>80%）和抑郁症状（68%）。在这里，我们总结了之前的研究，以评估气功作为 CFS 补充和替代疗法的潜力。进行了两项随机对照试验（RCT1 n=137，RCT2 n=150）。在这两项试验中，广泛的在线问卷允许识别出患有类似 CFS 疾病的个体（即症状符合 CFS，但没有临床确认）。RCT1 包括 5 周的干预。RCT2 的干预时间为 8 周。在 RCT1 中，气功组的疲劳（P<0.001）和抑郁症状（P=0.002）得到改善，端粒酶活性（P=0.029）得到改善。确定了有效的练习方案（每周≥3 天，每次≥30 分钟）。方法为 RCT2 进行了略微调整，复制了 RCT1 的发现，并进一步记录了改善的主观睡眠质量（P=0.008）和脂联素水平（P<0.05）。发现了显著的剂量反应关系。因此，气功运动应被视为 CFS 的一种可能的独立治疗方法和自我管理技能。需要制定策略来提高定期练习的动机，并探索其在大脑健康方面的自我管理技能的可能性。进一步的明确将来自于将气功与其他体育锻炼进行比较的研究。
