NCT07473180

Effects of Qigong Therapy in MS Patients

The Effect of Qigong on Functional Outcomes, Balance, General Well-Being, and Depression in Patients Diagnosed With Multiple Sclerosis

• Status: Active Not Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 36 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Baskent University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Chinese medical exercises (Qigong) are part of traditional Chinese medicine and martial arts, consisting of exercise sequences originating from China. These exercises have been used in China for thousands of years to maintain physical and psychological health and treat diseases. They have increasingly become a focus of modern medicine. Qigong is a practice that integrates concentration, visualization, breathing, posture, and movement techniques. Its goal is to enhance, activate, develop, and balance life energy (Qi). Study Type: Randomized controlled clinical trial. Upon reviewing the literature, no study was found comparing the practical application of Qigong exercises with conventional rehabilitation methods. This study aims to investigate the effects of Qigong on the overall well-being and balance of Multipl Sklerosis patients.

Detailed description

INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL INFORMATION Chinese medical exercises (Qigong) are part of traditional Chinese medicine and martial arts, consisting of exercise sequences originating from China. These exercises have been used in China for thousands of years to maintain physical and psychological health and treat diseases. They have increasingly become a focus of modern medicine. Qigong is a practice that integrates concentration, visualization, breathing, posture, and movement techniques. Its goal is to enhance, activate, develop, and balance life energy (Qi). Many neurological diseases, which are the focus of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation specialists, reduce the quality of life of patients due to chronic disability and dependency, along with associated psychosocial disorders such as anxiety and depression. The goal of neurological rehabilitation, which aims to achieve "optimal biopsychosocial well-being", aligns with the objectives of mind-body medicine. Indeed, the components of mind-body medicine are frequently used in neurological rehabilitation today. Upon reviewing the literature, no study was found comparing the practical application of Qigong exercises with conventional rehabilitation methods in MS. This study aims to investigate the effects of Qigong on the overall well-being and balance of MS patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS Study Type: Randomized controlled clinical trial. Sample: Patients visiting the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation outpatient clinic at Başkent University, who are enrolled in a rehabilitation program and consent to participate, will be included. The minimum required sample size for the "Student's t-test" to achieve 80% power with a 95% confidence level is n=128 (64 in the Qigong group and 64 in the control group). For "Repeated Measures ANOVA," the minimum required sample size is n=148 (74 in each group). Thus, the total minimum sample size for the study is 148 participants.

Conditions

• Multiple Sclerosis

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Conventional rehabilitation therapy	: Patients in the conventional rehabilitation group will participate in a rehabilitation program 3 days a week, with each session lasting 1.5 hours. The program will include neurophysiological exercises, strengthening exercises, and balance and coordination exercises, performed in three sets of 10 repetitions. There will be warm-up and cool-down periods before and after each session.
OTHER	Qi gong Baduanjin Exercises	The protocol includes eight traditional movements, such as: * Raising Hands to the Sky (9 repeats) * Drawing the Bow to Hit the Hawk (9 left, 9 right repeats) * Separating Heaven and Earth (9 repeats) * The Wise Owl Looking Back. (9 left, 9 right repeats) * Shaking the Head and Tail (9 left, 9 right repeats) * Bending to Touch the Feet (9 repeats) * Clenching Fists and Gathering Energy with a Fierce Look (9 left, 9 right repeats) * Shaking the Body by Hitting the Heels (9 repeats) Each exercise sequence will be performed with warm-up (deep breathing) and cool-down (focusing on energy flow). The Qigong group will participate in a Qigong session 3 days a week,30-45 minutes, led by a physiotherapist, after their conventional rehabilitation program (3 days a week, with each session lasting 1,5 hours).Breathing in and out will be performed in coordination with qigong movements.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-12-01
• Primary completion: 2026-04-30
• Completion: 2026-05-15
• First posted: 2026-03-16
• Last updated: 2026-03-16

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)