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

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.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Multiple Sclerosis
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Conventional rehabilitation therapy; Other: Qi gong Baduanjin Exercises

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.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 36
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Baskent University Medical faculty

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged 18-65 years, diagnosed with MS according to McDonald criteria,
• Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) ≤5, able to walk independently or with minimal assistance,
• No relapse or treatment changes in the last 30 days.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participation in a mixed exercise program containing traditional Chinese exercises (Tai Chi, Qigong, Yoga, etc.) in the past 3 months,
• Severe cardiopulmonary or musculoskeletal problems that could contraindicate traditional Chinese exercises,
• Communication barriers due to cognitive issues,
• Progressive comorbid conditions.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Conventional Therapy; Patients in the conventional rehabilitation group will participate in a rehabilitation program at least 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: 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.
Experimental: Qi gong; This group will take 3 times a week Qi gong therapy with classical conventional therapy. The protocol includes eight traditional movements, such as: Raising Hands to the Sky,; Drawing the Bow to Hit the Hawk,; Separating Heaven and Earth,; The Wise Owl Looking Back,; Shaking the Head and Tail,; Bending to Touch the Feet,; Clenching Fists and Gathering Energy with a Fierce Look,; Shaking the Body by Hitting the Heels. 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 45-minute additional Qigong session (three times a week), led by a physiotherapist, after their conventional rehabilitation program.	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.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
The Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale-29 (MSIS-29)	The Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale-29 (MSIS-29) is a widely used, patient-reported questionnaire designed to assess the physical and psychological impact of multiple sclerosis (MS) on an individual's daily life. Developed by Hobart and colleagues in 2001, the MSIS-29 consists of 29 items divided into two subscales: 20 items addressing the physical impact of MS and 9 items evaluating the psychological impact. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from "not at all" to "extremely," and the total scores are transformed to a 0-100 scale, where higher scores indicate greater impact. The MSIS-29 is valued for its reliability, sensitivity to change, and ease of use in both clinical practice and research settings. It provides a comprehensive view of how MS affects a patient's quality of life.	before therapy and after therapy (6 weeks)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
The Berg Balance Scale (BBS)	The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) is a widely used clinical tool designed to assess a person's balance and risk of falling, particularly in older adults and individuals with balance impairments due to neurological conditions such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, or Parkinson's disease. It consists of 14 simple tasks that measure both static and dynamic balance abilities, including activities such as standing up from a sitting position, standing with eyes closed, turning, and reaching forward. Each task is scored on a 5-point scale (0 to 4), where 0 indicates inability to perform and 4 indicates independent and safe performance, resulting in a maximum total score of 56. Lower scores indicate greater balance impairment and a higher risk of falls.	Before therapy and after therapy (6 weeks)
Barthel Index	The Barthel Index is a standardized tool used to assess a person's ability to perform basic activities of daily living (ADLs) independently. It is commonly used in rehabilitation settings, especially for individuals recovering from stroke, spinal cord injuries, or other conditions affecting physical functioning. The index evaluates 10 daily activities, including feeding, bathing, grooming, dressing, bowel and bladder control, toilet use, transfers (e.g., from bed to chair), mobility, and stair climbing. Each activity is scored based on the level of assistance required, with total scores typically ranging from 0 to 100, where higher scores indicate greater independence. A score of 100 means the individual is fully independent, while lower scores reflect varying levels of dependency.	Before therapy and after therapy (6 weeks)
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)	The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) is a widely used self-report questionnaire designed to assess the severity of depressive symptoms in adolescents and adults. Each item is scored on a scale from 0 to 3, with higher scores indicating more severe depressive symptoms. The total score helps classify depression severity as minimal, mild, moderate, or severe.	Before therapy and after therapy (6 weeks)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Baskent University
• Investigators: Study Chair: Sevgi Ikbali Afsar, Professor, Baskent University Hospital Ankara

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): April 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 16, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 12, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): March 16, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 16, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 12, 2026
• Last Verified: March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Multiple sclerosis; Complementary Therapies; Qigong
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nervous System Diseases; Autoimmune Diseases; Immune System Diseases; Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS; Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System; Demyelinating Diseases; Multiple Sclerosis
• Other Study ID Numbers: Okuculmez

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No