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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.
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 BaÅŸkent 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.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional Therapy | Active Comparator | 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. |
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| Qi gong | Experimental | This group will take 3 times a week Qi gong therapy with classical conventional therapy. The protocol includes eight traditional movements, such as:
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| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional rehabilitation therapy | Other | : 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. |
| 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) |
| 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. |
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Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
18-65 years
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| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Sevgi Ikbali Afsar, Professor | Baskent University Hospital Ankara | Study Chair |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baskent University Medical faculty | Ankara | Turkey (Türkiye) |
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| Type | Includes Protocol | Includes SAP | Includes ICF | Document Label | Document Date | Document Uploaded Date | Document File Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prot | Yes | No | No | Study Protocol | Feb 16, 2026 | Mar 12, 2026 | Prot_000.pdf |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D009103 | Multiple Sclerosis |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D020278 | Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS |
| D020274 | Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System |
| D009422 | Nervous System Diseases |
| D003711 | Demyelinating Diseases |
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Randomized controlled clinical trial There are two arms Conventional Rehabilitation Protocol: 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.
Chinese Medicine Exercise Protocol: The protocol includes eight traditional movements, such as:
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| Qi gong Baduanjin Exercises | Other | The protocol includes eight traditional movements, such as:
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| 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) |
| D001327 | Autoimmune Diseases |
| D007154 | Immune System Diseases |