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Effect of a qigong exercise programme on elderly with depression
Hector W H Tsang1, Kelvin M T Fung, Ashley S M Chan
1Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kwai Chung Hospital, Hong Kong. rshtsang@polyu.edu.hk
Objectives:
This report released findings of a randomized controlled trial conducted in Hong Kong to further our understanding of the psychosocial effects of qigong on elderly persons with depression.
Design:
Eighty-two participants with a diagnosis of depression or obvious features of depression were recruited and randomly assigned into the intervention and comparison group. The intervention group was given a 16-week period of Qigong practice while the comparison group participated in a newspaper reading group with same duration and frequency.
Results:
After eight weeks of qigong practice, the intervention group participants outstripped themselves in improvement in mood, self-efficacy and personal well being, and physical and social domains of self-concept when compared with comparison subjects. After 16 weeks of practice, the improvement generalized to the daily task domain of the self-concept.
Conclusions:
This report shows that regular qigong practice could relieve depression, improve self-efficacy and personal well being among elderly persons with chronic physical illness and depression.
