Effect of low-moderate intensity traditional Chinese exercises combined with acupuncture on patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether combining pulmonary-based Qigong exercise with acupuncture therapy could improve multi-system function, particularly exercise endurance and dyspnea, in patients with stable COPD.
Results Summary
The study protocol outlines a rigorous randomized controlled trial to evaluate the combined effects of acupuncture and Qigong on COPD patients, with primary outcomes focused on exercise endurance and secondary outcomes including lung function, dyspnea, and quality of life. Results are not yet reported, but the study design suggests potential for meaningful clinical benefits.
Population
132 participants with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Effective Dosage
Acupuncture treatment three times per week for 8 weeks (specific acupuncture points or techniques not detailed in the abstract).
Duration
8 weeks of intervention, with follow-up at 1 year post-intervention.
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Traditional Chinese exercises (TCEs) | increase | pulmonary rehabilitation | patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) | - | have been proven to be effective | #1 |
Acupuncture therapy | increase | degree of dyspnea | - | - | can effectively improve | #2 |
Acupuncture therapy | increase | exercise training | patients with COPD | - | expected to serve as an adjuvant therapy | #3 |
combination of pulmonary-based Qigong (PQ) exercise and acupuncture therapy | increase | multi-system function | patients with COPD | - | explore the multidimensional and multi-system effects | #4 |
BACKGROUND: Traditional Chinese exercises (TCEs), as a new technology for pulmonary rehabilitation, have been proven to be effective in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, further aggravation of dynamic hyperinflation manifested as exertional dyspnea during exercises may limit the partial therapeutic efficacy of TCEs on patients with COPD. Acupuncture therapy, internationally recognized as a complementary and alternative therapy, can effectively improve the degree of dyspnea, and it is expected to serve as an adjuvant therapy for exercise training in patients with COPD to fully realize the therapeutic efficacy of exercise training. Therefore, this study aims to explore the multidimensional and multi-system effects of the combination of pulmonary-based Qigong (PQ) exercise and acupuncture therapy on patients with COPD. METHODS: This protocol describes an assessor-blinded, data analyst-blinded, four-arm randomized controlled trial that aims to recruit 132 participants with stable COPD and randomly allocate them into pulmonary-based Qigong exercise group, acupuncture group, pulmonary-based Qigong exercise and acupuncture combined group, or control group at a 1:1:1:1 ratio. All participants will receive usual medical care and health education; those in the intervention groups will receive PQ exercise, acupuncture treatment, or a combination of both treatments three times per week for 8 weeks. The primary outcome will be the exercise endurance as assessed by a 6-min walk test. Secondary outcomes will include lung function, degree of dyspnea, diaphragmatic function, respiratory muscle strength, skeletal muscle structure, skeletal muscle function, psychological states, and quality of life. Exploratory outcomes will include the levels of inflammatory mediators. The frequency and severity of acute exacerbations of COPD will be recorded at baseline and 1 year after intervention. DISCUSSION: The findings of this study will clarify the effects of the combination of PQ exercise and acupuncture therapy on the multi-system function of patients with stable COPD to provide evidence for acupuncture as an adjuvant therapy for pulmonary rehabilitation. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: https://www.chictr.org.cn, ChiCTR2300076255.