title: Effects of a 6-month Tai Chi Qigong program on arterial hemodynamics and functional aerobic capacity in survivors of nasopharyngeal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Survivors of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) often sustain cardiovascular complications after conventional cancer treatments. Tai Chi (TC) Qigong training may be a viable way to improve peripheral circulatory status and aerobic capacity in this population. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a 6-month TC Qigong training program on blood flow velocities and resistance, palmar skin temperature, and functional aerobic capacity in survivors of NPC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five and 27 survivors of NPC volunteered to join the intervention group (mean age, 55.4 ± 7.5 years) and control group (mean age, 58.7 ± 9.5 years), respectively. The intervention group underwent a TC Qigong training program-the modified 18 Forms TC Internal Qigong-for 6 months, while the control group received no training. Peripheral arterial blood flow velocities and resistance, palmar skin temperature, and functional aerobic capacity were measured by a Doppler ultrasound machine, an infrared thermometer, and six-minute walk test, respectively. All outcomes were assessed at baseline, mid-intervention (3-month), post-intervention (6-month), and follow-up (12-month) periods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The TC Qigong group had higher diastolic blood flow velocity (p = 0.010), lower arterial blood flow resistance (p = 0.009), and higher palmar skin temperature (p = 0.004) than the control group after TC Qigong training. However, only the diastolic blood flow velocity was higher in the TC Qigong group than in the control group during the no-training follow-up period (p = 0.032). Additionally, an improvement in functional aerobic capacity was found in the intervention group after TC Qigong training (p < 0.008) but not in the control group over time (p > 0.008).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TC Qigong training may improve peripheral circulatory status and functional aerobic capacity among people treated for NPC. However, this is only a pilot study and future definitive trials are needed to confirm the results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TC Qigong may have enormous potential as a rehabilitation intervention for survivors of NPC to improve arterial hemodynamics and functional aerobic capacity.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Performance, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China, smfong@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Shirley S M
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.forename: Shamay S M
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Luk
authors.forename: Joanne W Y
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Joyce C Y
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: Rich S W
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Masters
mesh_terms: D002277:Carcinoma; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077274:Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D017741:Survivors; D026302:Tai Ji; D013997:Time Factors