Effects of Health Qigong on quality of life, physical function, and mental health in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Health Qigong is widely used for health promotion in older adults. This study aimed to systematically evaluate its effects on physical function, psychological well-being, and quality of life (QoL), alongside the moderating effects of intervention characteristics. METHODS: Seven databases were systematically searched (up to May 2025). Twenty-two randomized controlled trials involving 1,791 older adults were included. Risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane RoB, and meta-analyses were performed using RevMan 5.4 and Stata 18.0. RESULTS: Health Qigong significantly improved 6-min walk distance (MD = 18.05 m, p = 0.03), balance (SMD = 1.70, p = 0.004), depressive symptoms (SMD = -0.64, p = 0.004), and QoL (SMD = 0.76, p = 0.03), but showed no significant effect on activities of daily living (ADL). Subgroup analyses suggested that while Qigong's benefits on most outcomes were comparable to conventional exercise, it may have greater potential in enhancing QoL. Additionally, regimens with high frequency (≥3 sessions/week), long duration (≥12 weeks), and moderate session length (<60 min) appeared to maximize benefits for alleviating depression and improving QoL. CONCLUSION: Health Qigong is an effective intervention for promoting multidimensional health in older adults. While most of its benefits are comparable to conventional exercise, Health Qigong may offer unique advantages in improving QoL. For clinical and community practice, a regular regimen of "high frequency, long duration, and moderate session length" is recommended, with flexible adaptations based on individual health conditions. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251112609.