In 2012, Oh, et. al., conducted a randomized controlled trial which has found that medical Qigong (MQ), a practice combining gentle exercise and meditation, significantly improves cognitive function, quality of life, and reduces inflammation in cancer patients. The study, conducted by a team of researchers led by Byeongsang Oh, involved 81 cancer patients and highlights the potential benefits of MQ as a complementary therapy for those undergoing cancer treatment.
Cancer patients often suffer from cognitive impairments and reduced quality of life due to both the disease itself and the side effects of treatment. This study aimed to explore whether MQ could alleviate these issues. Participants were randomly assigned to either a control group, receiving standard care, or an intervention group that engaged in a 10-week MQ program.
The results were promising. The MQ group reported notable improvements in cognitive function, as measured by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Cognitive Functioning (EORTC-CF) questionnaire and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive (FACT-Cog) scale. Specifically, the MQ group showed a significant mean difference (MD) of 7.78 in the EORTC-CF and improvements across all FACT-Cog subscales, including perceived cognitive impairment (MD = 4.70), the impact of cognitive impairment on quality of life (MD = 1.64), and perceived cognitive abilities (MD = 3.61).
Quality of life, assessed by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G), also improved significantly in the MQ group with a mean difference of 12.66, highlighting a substantial positive impact on overall well-being.
In addition to subjective improvements, the study found a significant reduction in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, a biomarker of inflammation, in the MQ group (MD = -0.72). This suggests that MQ may help mitigate inflammatory responses, which are often elevated in cancer patients.
The research team concluded that MQ could be a valuable complementary therapy for cancer patients, enhancing cognitive function, quality of life, and reducing inflammation. They advocate for a larger trial to further explore these findings, including objective assessments of cognitive function to validate the self-reported data.
This study underscores the potential of integrative therapies like MQ in supporting cancer patients, offering a non-pharmacological option to improve their quality of life and cognitive health during treatment.
Reference: Oh, B., Butow, P. N., Mullan, B. A., Clarke, S. J., Beale, P. J., Pavlakis, N., & Vardy, J. (2012). Effect of medical Qigong on cognitive function, quality of life, and a biomarker of inflammation in cancer patients: a randomized controlled trial. Supportive Care in Cancer, 20, 1235-1242.