title: Efficacy of Liuzijue Qigong in Individuals with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Remission.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effectiveness of a 6-month Liuzijue qigong (LQG) program in promoting physical and psychosocial function in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Single-blind, randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven hospital respiratory care centers in Beijing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Individuals with COPD (N = 126; mean age 71.1 ± 2.7, range 65-85).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: LQG (n = 63) and control (n = 63). Subjects in the LQG group received a LQG program consisting of four 45-minute sessions each week and daily walking for 30 minutes for 6 months. Control subjects walked daily for 30 minutes. Data collection was performed at baseline, at 6 weeks, and at 6 months. Primary outcomes involved functional capacity, and secondary outcomes involved quality of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The LQG group had greater improvements in the 6-minute walk test (P = .02); specific airway conductance (P = .02); monitored functional task evaluation (P = .04); Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36; general health (P < .001), mental health (P = .03)); Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire (dyspnea (P = .05), emotion (P = .05), and mastery (P = .04) at 6-month follow-up. After 6 months, the control group had significant improvement only on the SF-36 mental health (P = .02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LQG promoted functional capacity and quality of life in older adults with COPD at 6 months and is a good alternative home exercise program for older adults in the rehabilitation of COPD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion and Physical Education, Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Chun-Mei
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Wushu, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yong-Chang
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Zhuang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D064906:Qigong; D011788:Quality of Life; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Liuzijue qigong; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; elderly; functional capacity; quality of life