![]() ![]() ![]() Research Question 1: What health benefits are evidenced from RCTs of Qigong and Tai Chi? Finally, to more critically evaluate similarities across studies of the two practices we discuss the potential of treating them as equivalent interventions in research and the interpretation of results across studies. Then, the body of evidence for outcomes in response to Qigong and Tai Chi is reviewed to examine the range of health benefits. ![]() A complete description of Qigong and Tai Chi is presented and the equivalence of their theoretical roots and their common elements of practice are established. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the current evidence for a broad range of health benefits for both Qigong and Tai Chi using only randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and to evaluate the potential of treating these two forms of meditative movement as equivalent forms. While many of these reviews have utilized selection criteria which restrict their focus to rigorous empirical studies, others have used less stringent criteria. Other reviews have addressed a broad spectrum of outcomes to demonstrate how Qigong 16– 19 or Tai Chi 20– 26 have demonstrated improvements for participants with a variety of chronic health problems or with vulnerable older adults. ![]() These reviews have covered a wide variety of outcomes, with many focused on specific diseases or symptoms including: hypertension 3 cardiovascular disease 4, 5 cancer 6– 8 arthritic disease 9 stroke rehabilitation 10 aerobic capacity 11 falls and balance 12, 13 bone mineral density 14 and shingles-related immunity, 15 with varying degrees of support noted for outcomes in response to Qigong or Tai Chi. Previously published reviews have reported on specific outcomes of either Tai Chi or Qigong, mostly addressing only one of these practices, and rarely taking into account the similarity of the two forms and their similar outcomes. In presenting evidence for a variety of health benefits, many of which are attributable to both practices, we will point to the magnitude of the combined literature and suggest under what circumstances Qigong and Tai Chi may be considered as potentially equivalent interventions, with recommendations for standards and further research to clarify this potential. 1, 2ĭue to the similarity of Qigong and Tai Chi, this review of the state of the science for these forms of meditative movement will investigate the benefits of both forms together. They are nearly identical in practical application in the health enhancement context and share much overlap in what traditional Chinese medicine describes as the “three regulations”: body focus (posture and movement), breath focus, and mind focus (meditative components). 1 These two forms of meditative movement, Qigong and Tai Chi, are close relatives having shared theoretical roots, common operational components, and similar links to the wellness and health promoting aspects of traditional Chinese medicine. Qigong and Tai Chi have been proposed, along with Yoga and Pranayama from India, to constitute a unique category or type of exercise referred to currently as meditative movement. In addition, a strong body of research is also emerging for Qigong, an even more ancient traditional Chinese wellness practice that has similar characteristics to Tai Chi. A substantial body of published research has examined the health benefits of Tai Chi (also called Taiji) a traditional Chinese wellness practice. ![]()
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