Ancient qigong breathing may boost lung function after stroke

NCT ID NCT07153562

Symptom relief Sponsor: Cairo University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tested whether Liuzijue Qigong, a traditional Chinese breathing exercise, could improve lung function in elderly people who had a stroke. 70 participants did either Qigong or standard rehab for 12 weeks. Researchers measured breathing capacity, walking ability, and quality of life to see if the Qigong group improved more.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Liuzijue Qigong exercises
What this could lead to: If it works, this could offer a simple, drug-free way to help elderly stroke survivors breathe better and improve their quality of life.
What could go wrong: This is a small, completed study with no blinding or long-term follow-up. Results may not apply to all stroke patients, and the benefits might be modest.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

70 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Aug 2025

Finished

Mar 2026

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

60 to 80 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion criteria: All patients included in this study met the following criteria: 1. Subject people of both sexes (18 women, and 17 men). 2. All patients had unilateral stroke. 3. Their age ranged from 60 to 80 years old. 4. Stroke onset was from 6 to 1 months. 5. Medically stable subjects. 6. Non-smoker subjects. 7. Ability to understand and follow simple verbal instructions. Exclusion criteria: Patients who experienced or had one or more of the following were excluded from the study: 1. Patients with severe acute illness. 2. Chronic unstable pulmonary and/or cardiac disease. 3. Impaired level of consciousness and evidence of gross cognitive problems. 4. Patients undergo chemotherapy. 5. Active hemoptysis, untreated pneumothorax, recent esophageal surgery. 6. Recent oral, facial or skull trauma / surgery, acute sinusitis, epistaxis, hemodynamic instability. 7. Current Smokers. 8. Patients had a severe psychological disorder.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

insomnia stroke disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Functional capacity Motor function Quality of life Sleep quality Ventilatory function

Ancient qigong breathing may boost lung function after stroke

What the study statuses mean