A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Qigong for the Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Table 1

Characteristics of the included studies.

Reference	Patients; (N, diagnosis, age, gender)	Cointerventions	Intervention groups; (N, contents, program length, frequency, duration)		Follow-up time points	Outcome measures	Results
			Treatment	Control			Short-term	Long-term
						(1) Pain; (2) Quality of life (disease specific, generic); (3) Sleep quality; (4) Fatigue; (5) Depression; (6) Safety
Astin et al., 2003 [33]	128 patients with fibromyalgia according to the ACR criteria; Mean age: 47.7±10.6 years; Gender: 63/1 f/m (Qigong); 64/0 f/m (education)	Not reported	Qigong; (𝑁=64); (mindfulness meditation and Qigong); 8 weeks; once weekly; 150 minutes each; (90 min mindfulness meditation,; 60 min Qigong)	Education; (𝑁=64); (education and support group); 8 weeks; once weekly; 150 minutes each	8 weeks; 24 weeks	(1) Pain intensity (Tender point tenderness); (2) Quality of life (FIQ); (5) Depression (BDI)	(1) Sign. improvement in Qigong; (2) Sign. improvement in Qigong and Education; (5) Sign. improvement in Qigong and education	(1) Sign. improvement in Qigong.; (2) Sign. improvement in Qigong and education; (5) Sign. improvement in Qigong and education
Haak and Scott, 2008 [34]	57 female patients with fibromyalgia (diagnosis unclear); Mean age: 53.3±9.2 years; Gender: female only	Medication	Qigong; (𝑁=29); (He Hua Qigong-Lotus method); 7 weeks; 9 sessions; 11.5 hours in total; + home practice; twice weekly; 20 min each; +2 sessions of external Qigong from Qigong master	Usual care; (𝑁=28); 7 weeks	End of intervention (not specified); 4 months (combined group, all patients had received the intervention)	(1) Pain intensity (VNS); (2) Quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF); (3) Sleep quality (VNS); (5) Depression (BDI)	(1) Sign. differences favoring Qigong; (2) Sign. differences favoring Qigong; (3) No sign. group difference; (5) Sign. differences favoring Qigong	(1) Sign. improvement compared to baseline; (2) Sign. improvement compared to baseline; (3) No change; (5) Sign. improvement compared to baseline
Liu et al., 2012 [35]	14 patients with fibromyalgia according to the ACR criteria; Mean age: 55.7 years (Qigong); 57.7 years (Sham Qigong); Gender: female only	Medication; (stable dosage,; for pain, sleep, or; mild depression)	Qigong; (𝑁=8); (Liu Zi Jue Qigong—“six healing sounds” Qigong: standing, sitting, supine postures, breathing exercises, quiet chanting, meditation); 2 initial sessions; 45–60 min each; + 6 weeks; once weekly; 45–60 min each; + home practice; twice daily; 15–20 min each	Sham Qigong; (𝑁=6); (matched standing, sitting, supine postures); 2 initial sessions; 45–60 min each; + 6 weeks; once weekly; 45–60 min each; + home practice; twice daily; 15–20 min each	End of intervention (not specified)	(1) Pain intensity (SMPQ); (2) Quality of life (FIQ); (3) Sleep quality (PSQI); (4) Fatigue (MFI)	(1) Sign. differences favoring Qigong; (2) No sign. group difference; (3) Sign. differences favoring Qigong; (4) Sign. differences favoring Qigong
Lynch et al., 2012 [36]	100 patients with fibromyalgia according to the ACR criteria; Mean age: 52 years; Gender: 50/3 f/m (Qigong); 46/1 f/m (usual care)	Not reported	Qigong; (𝑁=53); (Chaoqi Fanhuan Qigong); 3 consecutive days; +8 weeks; once weekly; 60 min each; +6 months; home practice; daily; 45–60 min each	Usual care; (𝑁=47)	6 months	(1) Pain intensity (NRS); (2) Quality of life (FIQ, SF-36); (3) Sleep quality (PSQI); (6) Adverse events	(1) Sign. differences favoring Qigong; (2) FIQ: Sign. differences favoring Qigong; SF-36: Sign. differences favoring Qigong; (3) Sign. differences favoring Qigong; (6) 2 adverse events (shoulder pain, plantar fasciitis)	(1) Sign. differences favoring Qigong; (2) FIQ: Sign. differences favoring Qigong; SF-36: Sign. differences favoring Qigong; (3) Sign. differences favoring Qigong
Maddali Bongi et al., 2012 [37]	30 patients with fibromyalgia according to the ACR criteria; Mean age: 56.6±9.10 (Qigong); 57.9±13.5 (Rességuier Method); Gender: not reported	Not reported	Qigong; (𝑁=15); (static and dynamic exercises, breathing exercises, self-massage); 3 weeks; twice weekly; 45 min each; +4 weeks; once weekly; 45 min each	Rességuier Method; (𝑁=15); (training of awareness and control of bodily perceptions); 3 weeks; twice weekly; 60 min each; +4 weeks; once weekly; 60 min each; +home practise; once daily; 30 min each	7 weeks	(1) Pain (NRS); (2) Quality of life (FIQ, SF-36); (3) Sleep quality (NRS); (5) Depression (HADS); (6) Adverse events	(1) Sign. improvement in Qigong and Rességuier method; (2) FIQ: Sign. in Qigong and Rességuier method; SF-36: Sign. in Qigong and Rességuier method; (3) No sign. change; (5) Sign. improvement in Qigong; (6) No adverse events
Mannerkorpi and Arndorw, 2004 [39]	36 female patients with fibromyalgia according to the ACR criteria; Mean age: 45±8.3 years; Gender: female only	Medication (analgesics, antidepressants, sedatives)	Qigong; (𝑁=19); (body awareness therapy and Qigong); 3 months; once weekly; 90 min each; (incl. 20 min Qigong)	Usual care; (𝑁=17)	End of intervention (not specified)	(2) Quality of life (FIQ)	(4) No sign. group difference
Stephens et al., 2008 [38]	30 children (8–18 years) with fibromyalgia according to the ACR criteria; Mean age: 12.9±2.7 years (Qigong); 13.6±1.84 years (Exercise); Gender: 12/4 f/m (Qigong); 10/4 f/m (education)	Not reported	Qigong; (𝑁=16); (postures, relaxation); 12 weeks; three times weekly; 35 min each	Exercise; (𝑁=14); (Aerobic exercise: cardiodance, boxing movements, stretching); 12 weeks; three times weekly; 50 min each	End of intervention (not specified)	(1) Pain intensity (PedsQL); (2) Quality of life (C-HAQ, QOML); (4) Fatigue (PedsQL); (5) Depression (CDI); (6) Adverse events	(1) No sign. group difference; (2) C-HAQ: sign. differences favoring exercise; QOML: sign. differences favoring exercise; (4) Sign. differences favoring exercise; (5) No sign. group difference; (6) No adverse events

Abbreviations: ACR: American College of Rheumatology; BDI: Beck Depression Inventory; CDI: Childhood Depression Inventory; C-HAQ: Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire; f: female; FIQ: Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire; HADS: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; m: male; MFI: Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory; NRS: Numerical Rating Scale; PedsQL: Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory; PSQI: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; QOML: Quality of My Life; SF-36: Short Form 36 Health Survey; Sign.: significant; SMPQ: Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire; VNS: Visual Numerical Scale; WHOQOL-BREF: World Health Organization Quality of Life BREF.