Evidence on the benefits of mind-body Qigong exercise in women with breast cancer

Dalmedico, Michel Marcos; Ribeiro, Jackson Adriano Canavarro; Avila, Juliana Londero Silva; Oliveira, Prisley Pereira de; Hembecker, Paula Karina; Ioshii, Sergio Ossamu

doi:10.1590/fm.2025.38205

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Review Article • Fisioter. Mov. 38 • 2025 • https://doi.org/10.1590/fm.2025.38205 linkcopy

Evidence on the benefits of mind-body Qigong exercise in women with breast cancer

Evidências sobre os benefícios do exercício mente-corpo Qigong em mulheres com câncer de mama

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

Introduction: Despite advancements in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of breast cancer, many survivors experience a decline in psycho-emotional well-being and overall quality of life. Integrative practices, such as mind-body Qigong exercises, may positively influence factors that affect the quality of life in these patients.

Objective: To synthesize evidence on the impact of Qigong practice on the quality of life of patients diagnosed with breast cancer.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was conducted, focusing on the effects of body-mind Qigong exercises in women with breast cancer. For relevant studies, we searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases. Eligible trials evaluated different Qigong techniques for outcomes related to improvements in quality of life.

Results: Eight studies met the inclusion criteria, examining various Qigong exercise techniques in women with breast cancer. Reported outcomes included improved quality of life, mental health, fatigue, cognitive function, and physical capacity. Positive effects were observed across all variables.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that Qigong has the potential to enhance the quality of life in breast cancer patients, whether in active treatment or remission. However, the integration of Qigong into standard oncology care requires further evidence from more robust studies.

Keywords:
Qigong therapy; Complementary therapies; Evidence-based clinical practice; Holistic health; Breast cancer

Author/ Year	Country	Title	Methodology	Journal/Database
Quixadá et al. (2022)³¹	Brazil	Qigong training positively impacts both posture and mood in breast cancer survivors with persistent post-surgical pain: support for an embodied cognition paradigm	Single-arm pilot clinical trial	Front Psychol/Pubmed
Liao et al. (2022)²⁴	China	Baduanjin's impact on quality of life and sleep quality in breast cancer survivors receiving aromatase inhibitor therapy: a randomized controlled trial	Randomized clinical trial	Front Oncol/Pubmed
Myers et al. (2019)²⁸	United States	Qigong intervention for breast cancer survivors with complaints of decreased cognitive function	Randomized clinical trial	Support Care Cancer/Pubmed
Ying et al. (2019)²⁵	China	The health effects of Baduanjin exercise (a type of Qigong exercise) in breast cancer survivors: A randomized, controlled, single-blinded trial	Randomized clinical trial	Eur J Oncol Nurs/Pubmed
Liu et al. (2017)²⁶	Hong Kong	The efficacy of Guolin-Qigong on the body-mind health of Chinese women with breast cancer: a randomized controlled trial	Randomized clinical trial	Qual Life Res/Pubmed
Fong et al. (2017)²⁷	Hong Kong	Tai Chi Qigong for survivors of breast cancer: a randomized controlled trial	Single-arm pilot clinical trial	The Lancet/Google Scholar
Larkey et al. (2016)²⁹	United States	Exploratory outcome assessment of Qigong/Tai Chi Easy on breast cancer survivors	Randomized clinical trial	Complement Ther Med/ Pubmed
Larkey et al. (2015)³⁰	United States	Randomized controlled trial of Qigong/Tai Chi easy on cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer survivors	Randomized clinical trial	Ann Behav Med/Pubmed

Author/ Year	Intervention	Comparison	Main Findings
Quixadá et al. (2022)³¹	Single arm: 12 weeks of therapeutic Qigong mind-body training Brocade Eight Strands Qigong focuses on a sequence of eight movements involving the upper and lower extremities and the upper body (n = 21)	—	There was a reduction in pain intensity (with persistent post-surgical pain) and fatigue.
Liao et al. (2022)²⁴	Baduanjin exercises for 12 weeks. Two supervised 90-minute sessions per week (n = 33)	Waiting list (n= 35)	Baseline values for quality of life did not differ between groups. Quality of life and physical functioning global scores significantly increased by 12.39 (p < 0.001) and 8.48 (p < 0.001) in the Baduanjin exercise group compared with those in the control group. Baduanjin exercise training led to improvement in quality of life and sleep quality.
Myers et al. (2019)²⁸	8 weekly sessions of 60 minutes Qigong (n = 19) Light exercise (n = 20) Support group (n = 11)	—	Self-reported cognitive function improved more for the Qigong group (p = 0.01). Qigong participants reported the greatest reduction in distress (p = 0.02). There was an overall dropout rate of 28%.
Ying et al. (2019)²⁵	Baduanjin exercise (a type of Qigong) 3 days/week in the hospital and another 4 days/week at home for 6 months (n = 46)	Original physical activity (n = 40)	After 6 months, heart rate variability and shoulder range of motion significantly improved in the Baduanjin group compared with the control group (p < 0.05).
Liu et al. (2017)²⁶	Guolin-Qigong twice a week for 24 weeks (n=79)	Physical stretching program (n= 79)	Improvements in quality of life were evident in both groups. However, the Qigong group fared better than the control group at week twelve (p < 0.01) and particularly in emotional well-being (p < 0.01) and breast cancer-specific well-being (p < 0.001). The intervention group showed a reduction in anxiety (p < 0.01).
Fong et al. (2017)²⁷	Tai Chi Qigong (TCQ) (n = 33)	No training (n = 21)	The TCQ programme improved blood oxygenation and quality of life. No adverse events were reported.
Larkey et al. (2016)²⁹	A set of 10 Qigong exercises based on Tai Chi Easy (TCE) practices (n = 42)	Sham Qigong (SQG) Smooth movement control similar to SQG/TCE, but without the focus on breathing and meditative state (n = 45)	Practices that include gentle movement among women with a history of breast cancer can improve many facets of the cancer experience, including quality of life, cognitive function, and physical activity patterns. There was no statistical difference between the groups for the analyzed outcomes.
Larkey et al. (2015)³⁰	12 weeks of Qigong/ Tai Chi Easy (QG/TCE) (n = 42)	Sham Qigong (n = 45)	Fatigue significantly decreased in the QG/TCE group compared with post-intervention control (p = 0.005) and 3-month follow-up (p = 0.024), but not depression and sleep quality.

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Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná Rua Imaculada Conceição, 1155 - Prado-Velho -, Curitiba - PR - CEP 80215-901, Telefone: (41) 3271-1608 - Curitiba - PR - Brazil
E-mail: revista.fisioterapia@pucpr.br

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Pubmed MEDLINE	((((((((((((((((((Qi Gong) OR (Qi Gong[Title/Abstract])) OR (Ch'i Kung)) OR (Ch'i Kung[Title/Abstract])) OR (Yijinjing)) OR (Yijinjing[Title/Abstract])) OR (Wuqinxi)) OR (Wuqinxi[Title/Abstract])) OR (Liuzijue)) OR (Liuzijue[Title/Abstract])) OR (Baduanjin)) OR (Baduanjin[Title/Abstract])) OR (Six Healing Sounds)) OR (Six Healing Sounds[Title/Abstract])) ) AND (Breast Cancer)) OR (Breast Cancer[Title/Abstract])) OR (Breast Neoplasms)) OR (Breast Neoplasms[Title/Abstract]) . Filters applied: Clinical Trial, Randomized Controlled Trial.
Web of Science	TS("Qi Gong" OR "Ch'i Kung" OR "Yijinjing" OR "Wuqinxi" OR "Liuzijue" OR "Baduanjin" OR "Six Healing Sounds" ) AND TS("Breast Cancer" OR "Breast Neoplasms") AND TS (‘Clinical Trial" OR "Randomized Controlled Trial" OR Trial). Limits: All Languages. All document types.
Cochrane CENTRAL	*("Qi Gong" OR "Ch'i Kung" OR "Yijinjing" OR "Liuzijue" OR "Baduanjin" OR "Six Healing Sounds") in Title Abstract Keyword AND ("Breast Cancer" OR "Breast Neoplasms") in Title Abstract Keyword - (Word variations have been searched).
Embase	("Qi Gong"/exp OR "Ch'i Kung"/exp OR "Yijinjing"/exp OR "Baduanjin"/exp OR "Liuzijue"/exp OR "Six Healing Sounds"/exp) AND (Breast Cancer /exp" OR "Breast Neoplasms"/exp) AND [randomized controlled trial]/lim.