Tai chi could improve the survival rate of those with advanced cancer by a year, University of Hong Kong's medical school researchers said as they found that tai chi and aerobic exercise can also help patients sleep better.
The HKUMed research team said the research aims to discover non-pharmacological interventions for patients in their fight against cancer.
"Patients with advanced lung cancer often experience sleep disturbances and associated psychological symptoms, which impact their overall survival and quality of life, while pharmacological interventions can induce side effects that significantly worsen cancer-related symptoms," they said.
The four-year research, conducted from 2018 to 2022, involved 226 patients with advanced lung cancer who were randomly assigned to one of three groups: tai chi, aerobic exercise, or a self- management control group.
The tai chi group attended twice a week for 16 weeks while the aerobics group attended twice a month over the same period, engaging in treadmill walking, stationary bike riding and resistance exercises.
The research revealed that both the tai chi and aerobic exercise groups demonstrated a significant improvement in sleep quality, anxiety, depression, cardiorespiratory function, physical function, step count and circadian rhythm. Tai chi was shown to have superior benefits over aerobic exercise in terms of sleep quality, fatigue reduction and balance.
The study also found a 65-percent lower risk of mortality in tai chi compared to the control group, suggesting that tai chi may potentially offer better survivability.
Research assistant professor Naomi Takemura said: "Tai chi's emphasis on the mind-body connection offers a holistic approach that goes beyond physical exercise alone. The meditative and mindful aspects of tai chi may help patients cope with psychological distress, reduce anxiety and enhance their overall quality of life and one-year survival rate."