Qigong Exercise for Muscles Strength and Quality of Life in Colorectal Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

The purpose of this study is to evaluate therapeutic effect of Qigong for muscle strength and quality of life in colorectal cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Colorectal Cancer
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Qigong Exercise; Other: Conventional Exercise Program

Detailed Description

Muscle weakness and fatigue are prevalent side effects experienced by patients undergoing chemotherapy for colorectal cancer. These symptoms can significantly impact daily functioning and overall quality of life. Finding effective treatments for this condition is crucial to improving patient outcomes and quality of life.

Qigong serves as a holistic exercise modality that not only strengthens muscles but also elevates the overall quality of life. Its gentle movements make it accessible to a wide range of individuals, including those undergoing rehabilitation or managing chronic health issues.

Furthermore the need of this study is developed from lack in the quantitative knowledge and information in the published studies about the effect of Qigong on muscle strength and quality of life in colorectal cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 38
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Shrouk Mohamed Reda Abd Elaliem, M.Sc; Phone Number: +20 12 71384571; Email: Shorouq.mohamed@nub.edu.eg
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Khadra Mohammed Ali, PhD

Study Locations

• Egypt
  • Giza, Egypt
    • Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University
    • Contact: Shrouk Mohamed Reda Abd Elaliem, M.Sc; Phone Number: +20 12 71384571; Email: Shorouq.mohamed@nub.edu.eg

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ranges between 35 and 55 years.
• Male & female patients will participate in the study.
• All patients with colorectal cancer undergoing chemotherapy.
• All patients enrolled to the study will have their informed consent.
• The patients will be instructed to report any side effects during the management.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence Patients with psychological disturbance or mental illness.
• Cardiopulmonary disease.
• Hypotensive patients.
• Nerve, muscle, or joint disease, or other malignant tumors affecting movement.
• Autoimmune disease.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Qigong Exercise + Conventional Exercise Program; Participants will receive a supervised Baduanjin Qigong exercise program combined with conventional exercises, including pain-free range-of-motion exercises, low-intensity walking, and physical therapy education. The intervention will be conducted three times weekly for 12 weeks under physiotherapist supervision, while participants continue their prescribed chemotherapy and routine medical follow-up.	Other: Qigong Exercise; Participants will receive a supervised Baduanjin Qigong exercise program combined with conventional exercises, including pain-free range-of-motion exercises, low-intensity walking, and physical therapy education. The intervention will be conducted three times weekly for 12 weeks under physiotherapist supervision, while participants continue their prescribed chemotherapy and routine medical follow-up.; Other: Conventional Exercise Program; Participants in this arm will receive a conventional exercise program consisting of pain-free range-of-motion exercises for the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle joints, low-intensity walking, and physical therapy education to maintain daily activities. The intervention will be administered for 12 weeks, with three sessions per week. Participants will continue their prescribed chemotherapy and routine outpatient medical follow-up throughout the study and will not participate in any additional structured exercise program during the intervention period.
Active Comparator: Conventional Exercise Program; Participants in this arm will receive a conventional exercise program consisting of pain-free range-of-motion exercises for the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle joints, low-intensity walking, and physical therapy education to maintain daily activities. The intervention will be administered for 12 weeks, with three sessions per week. Participants will continue their prescribed chemotherapy and routine outpatient medical follow-up throughout the study and will not participate in any additional structured exercise program during the intervention period.	Other: Conventional Exercise Program; Participants in this arm will receive a conventional exercise program consisting of pain-free range-of-motion exercises for the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle joints, low-intensity walking, and physical therapy education to maintain daily activities. The intervention will be administered for 12 weeks, with three sessions per week. Participants will continue their prescribed chemotherapy and routine outpatient medical follow-up throughout the study and will not participate in any additional structured exercise program during the intervention period.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Muscle Strength	Muscle strength of the upper and lower limbs will be assessed using the Lafayette Hand-Held Dynamometer. Muscle strength will be quantified as the maximum isometric force generated by the tested muscle groups, with higher values indicating greater muscle strength.	12 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Health-Related Quality of Life	Health-related quality of life will be assessed using the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). The questionnaire evaluates multiple domains of physical and mental health, with domain scores ranging from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate better health-related quality of life.	12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Cairo University
• Investigators: Study Chair: Amal Mohammed Abd El Baky, PhD, Professor, Cairo University; Study Director: Khadra Mohammed Ali, PhD, Assist Professor, Cairo University; Study Director: Eid Rizk El Gamal, PhD, Assist. Professor, Al-Azhar University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): July 20, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 20, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

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

Study Record Updates

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

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Intestinal Diseases; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms; Digestive System Neoplasms; Digestive System Diseases; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Intestinal Neoplasms; Rectal Diseases; Colonic Diseases; Colorectal Neoplasms
• Other Study ID Numbers: P.T.REC/012/005843

Drug and device information, study documents

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