Developing and Testing the Effectiveness of a Novel Health Qigong for Frail Elders in Hong Kong : A Preliminary Study

Eight-Section Brocades and Yijin Jing consist of some routine movements that are too difficult for frail elders. A novel health qigong protocol was developed and its effectiveness for frail elders was examined using a randomized clinical trial (RCT). An expert panel performed functional anatomy analysis and safety field test prior to the RCT. The experimental group (n=61, 83±6 yr) was given a 12-week qigong exercise program, while the comparison group (n=55, 84±6 yr) participated in a newspaper reading program with the same duration and frequency. Pre-, mid-, post-, and follow-up assessments were conducted. At 12 weeks, the qigong group had significant improvements in thinking operations (F=4.05, P=.02) and significant reduction of resting heart rate (F=3.14, P=.045) as compared to the newspaper reading group. A trend of improvements in grip strength and a decreasing trend of depression levels were observed among the qigong group. Significant perceived improvements in physical health (F=13.01, P=.001), activities of daily living (F=5.32, P=.03), and overall health status (F=15.26, P=.0001) were found. There are improvements in some aspects of psychosocial, cognitive, physical, and physiological domains. Clinical applications and possibilities for further research are discussed.