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Study on Qi Gong for chronic fatigue syndrome

Jessie S M Chan et al.

December 2014

Sleep therapy

Stress / Exhaustion

TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine)

The University of Hong Kong and the Harvard School of Public Health investigated the effectiveness of Ba Duan Jin, a form of Qi Gong, in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). For this purpose, 150 subjects with CFS were either placed on the waiting list or received 16 Qi Gong lessons over nine weeks. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Chalder Fatigue Scale (chfs) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were measured at the start of the study, immediately after treatment and three months after the end of the study.

No significant difference was found in the overall PSQI score, but an improvement in sleep latencyand subjective sleep quality was observed in the Qi Gong group. HADS and chfs improved significantly with qigong therapy in comparison. The number of Qi Gong lessons completed correlated with sleep, fatigue, anxiety and depressive symptoms. Ba Duan Jin Qi Gong thus proved to be an effective treatment method for CFS disorders.

The most important information on the study at a glance

Indications: Exhaustion, sleep disorder, CFS
Institution: Centre on Behavioral Health, The University of Hong Kong, 2/F, Hong Kong Jockey Club Building for Interdisciplinary Research, 5 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
Title: Study on Qi Gong for chronic fatigue syndrome
Brief description: Study shows that Qi Gong improves fatigue, sleep quality and psychological symptoms in CFS.
Original title: Qigong exercise alleviates fatigue, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, improves sleep quality, and shortens sleep latency in persons with chronic fatigue syndrome-like illness
Link to the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25610473/