Qigong: what it involves, what the evidence shows and who should take care

Most classes begin with standing or seated posture, then move through a sequence of slow, flowing movements while you breathe deeply and keep your attention on the body. Sets are often repeated, so that the pattern becomes familiar and the mind settles.

It sits in the same broad family as tai chi, which NCCIH describes as having begun as a martial art and now focused mainly on health. Qigong is low impact, and the research below includes people with lung, heart and neurological conditions.

Reviews cited by the US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health suggest possible benefit for neck pain and for musculoskeletal pain overall, but a 2020 review found mixed results for low-back and neck pain, so the picture is not settled.

For fibromyalgia the early studies are more encouraging. One study of 89 people found that six months of practice helped pain and sleep quality, and a smaller study of 57 people reported improvements in pain and anxiety after seven weeks. Daily sessions of 30 to 40 minutes over six to eight weeks were linked with benefits that lasted several months after the study ended.

A 2020 review of 31 studies with 3,045 participants found that adding qigong to usual treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was associated with better lung function and quality of life. A separate 2020 review of people with chronic heart failure, covering 2,465 participants, reported better cardiorespiratory fitness and quality of life when qigong was added to routine care.

For high blood pressure a 2021 review of 370 participants suggested possible benefit, but the authors of the summary describe the evidence as lacking firmness. In Parkinson disease a 2020 review of 325 participants found movement and balance improved more than with some other exercise, with gains comparable to walking or stationary cycling.

• Qigong is described as an add-on to usual medical care in these reviews, not a replacement for it.

• Anyone with a heart or lung condition should talk to their GP or specialist team before starting a new form of exercise.

A 2019 survey of the research concluded there was enough evidence to support qigong for balance training and falls prevention. Studies in older adults also report better quality of life and physical ability, although improvement in depressive symptoms did not reach statistical significance.

In cancer care, a 2019 review of 915 participants found significant improvement in fatigue and sleep quality. For thinking skills, a 2020 review of 893 participants reported gains after three to six months when sessions lasted 40 to 60 minutes and were held three to six times a week. These are summaries of reviews, and the studies within them differ in design and quality.

Qigong appears to be a safe form of activity. Studies in older adults and people with long-term conditions report no negative effects in most cases, and minor effects such as muscle pain, soreness or headache occurred in fewer than 10% of participants.

There is no safety research in pregnancy. One small 2010 study of 70 women using modified movements reported benefits and no adverse effects, but a single small trial is not enough to draw firm conclusions, so pregnant women are advised to check with a healthcare professional first.

As with any exercise, stop and seek advice if you develop chest pain, marked breathlessness, dizziness or new pain. If you are unsure whether a movement suits your joints, ask the teacher to adapt it or to show a seated version.

The NHS notes that complementary therapists other than osteopaths and chiropractors do not have to be registered by law. The CNHC list of 18 registered professions includes yoga therapy and Alexander technique teaching but does not list qigong, so there is no standard register to check.

In practice, ask about the teacher's training and experience, whether they have taught people with your condition, and whether they will adjust movements. Community, leisure-centre and health-service classes may be easier to evaluate than private one-to-one teaching, because you can watch a session first. If you are managing pain, heart, lung or neurological conditions, let your clinician know you plan to start.