Altern Ther Health Med. 2023 Mar;29(2):112-119.
Qigong exercise represents one type of traditional Chinese exercise that might positively affect physical and psychological functioning, slow down disease development and improve quality of life. However, study findings are somewhat conflicting and mechanisms contributing to expected beneficial effects are rather poorly known.
This study aims to evaluate the effects of qigong exercise training for 8 weeks on selected physical, cognitive, and biochemical outcomes in young sedentary females.
METHOD/DESIGN: Quasi-experimental design, placebo-controlled study.
The study was performed at the Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Allied Health Science, Burapha University, Bangsean, Chonburi province, Thailand.
Participants were 41 females with sedentary lifestyles.
41 sedentary females were allocated to qigong exercise (QG, n = 20) or to the control group (CG, n = 21).
VO2 max predicted from step testing, aspects of cognitive functions (e.g., digit span forward, DSF, and digit span backward, DSB, task), hematological and biochemical parameters, and body composition were assessed in both groups before and after the 8-week training period.
Physical performance (estimated VO2 max) significantly increased after qigong training compared to the CG (P < .001). Working memory (DSB) increased after intervention only within the QG (P = .009) but changes did not reach significance between the groups. Changes in neutrophils (potential mediators of inflammation) tended to be improved in the QG in comparison to the CG (P = .075). Body composition remained unchanged.
These findings indicate that 8 weeks of qigong training increased aerobic capacity and tended to improve working memory in otherwise sedentary young females. Neutrophils tended to decrease within the QG. Thus, it was speculated that enhanced oxygen supply to the brain and the decrease of neutrophils adhering to cortical capillaries might have contributed to improved cognitive function.
气功锻炼是一种传统的中国锻炼方式，可能对身体和心理功能产生积极影响，减缓疾病的发展，提高生活质量。然而，研究结果有些相互矛盾，对预期有益效果的机制知之甚少。
本研究旨在评估 8 周气功锻炼训练对年轻久坐女性某些身体、认知和生化结果的影响。
方法/设计：准实验设计，安慰剂对照研究。
该研究在泰国春武里府邦赛的布拉帕大学联合健康科学学院物理治疗系进行。
参与者为 41 名生活方式久坐的女性。
41 名久坐的女性被分配到气功锻炼组（QG，n = 20）或对照组（CG，n = 21）。
台阶试验预测 VO2 max、认知功能（如数字跨度向前，DSF，和数字跨度向后，DSB，任务）、血液学和生化参数以及身体成分，分别在两组 8 周训练前后进行评估。
与 CG 相比，气功训练后身体表现（估计的 VO2 max）显著提高（P <.001）。干预后仅在 QG 中工作记忆（DSB）增加（P =.009），但两组之间的变化没有达到显著性。与 CG 相比，中性粒细胞（炎症的潜在介质）的变化趋势有所改善（P =.075）。身体成分保持不变。
这些发现表明，8 周的气功训练增加了有氧能力，并倾向于改善久坐不动的年轻女性的工作记忆。在 QG 中，中性粒细胞有减少的趋势。因此，有人推测，向大脑供氧增加和附着在皮质毛细血管上的中性粒细胞减少可能有助于改善认知功能。
