Qigong and sleep: research overview

Not medical advice. This page lists research about qigong and sleep. It does not say whether qigong works for any person or condition. Talk to a qualified health professional before starting a new exercise program, especially if you have a medical condition.

Studies in PubMed

19 (tagged with “Sleep” as a major topic)

Years

2009–2026

Registered trials

0 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Types of studies

Each study is counted once, under its strongest type in this order: meta-analysis, systematic review, randomized controlled trial, clinical trial, review, observational study.

Studies, newest first

1. A randomized controlled trial of seated Baduanjin and elastic band training on sleep and psychological needs in older wheelchair users. — Scientific reports, 2026 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
2. Determinants and interrelations of exercise effects on sleep quality: A multimethod meta-analysis. — Sleep medicine reviews, 2026 · DOIMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
3. Trends in the use of Baduanjin for improving sleep quality: a visual analysis. — Journal of bodywork and movement therapies, 2026 · DOISystematic Review
4. Effect of Baduanjin Qigong and transcranial direct current stimulation on quality of sleep and disease impact in elderly patients with fibromyalgia: a randomised, sham-controlled study. — Clinical and experimental rheumatology, 2025 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
5. Improving cognitive function in older adults through mind-body Qigong exercise at senior daycare centers: The role of sleep as a moderator and mediator. — Explore (New York, N.Y.), 2025 · DOI
6. Effects of Qigong Therapy on the Psychological Well-Being, Physical Health State, Sleep State, and Life Satisfaction of Older Adults Living in Community. — Holistic nursing practice, 2024 · DOI
7. Impact of Baduanjin exercise combined with rational emotive behavior therapy on sleep and mood in patients with poststroke depression: A randomized controlled trial. — Medicine, 2024 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
8. Effects of Exercise on Sleep in Older Adults: An Overview of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. — Journal of aging and physical activity, 2022 · DOIMeta-Analysis
9. Can Qigong improve non-motor symptoms in people with Parkinson's disease - A pilot randomized controlled trial? — Complementary therapies in clinical practice, 2020 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
10. Effects of Mind-Body Interventions Involving Meditative Movements on Quality of Life, Depressive Symptoms, Fear of Falling and Sleep Quality in Older Adults: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis. — International journal of environmental research and public health, 2020 · DOIMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
11. Effects of physical activity programs on sleep outcomes in older adults: a systematic review. — The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity, 2020 · DOISystematic Review
12. Assessment of hormonal parameters and psychological well-being in healthy subjects after a Taoist qigong program: An exploratory study. — Scandinavian journal of psychology, 2019 · DOI
13. Integrative Approaches for Sleep Health in Cancer Survivors. — Cancer journal (Sudbury, Mass.), 2019 · DOIReview
14. A randomized controlled trial of qigong on fatigue and sleep quality for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients undergoing chemotherapy. — European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society, 2016 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
15. The effect of meditative movement on sleep quality: A systematic review. — Sleep medicine reviews, 2016 · DOISystematic Review
16. The Effect of a Meditative Movement Intervention on Quality of Sleep in the Elderly: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. — Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 2015 · DOIMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
17. The effect of Qigong on menopausal symptoms and quality of sleep for perimenopausal women: a preliminary observational study. — Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 2012 · DOI
18. The effect of a simple traditional exercise programme (Baduanjin exercise) on sleep quality of older adults: a randomized controlled trial. — International journal of nursing studies, 2012 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
19. Serum cytokines, mood and sleep after a qigong program: is qigong an effective psychobiological tool? — Journal of health psychology, 2009 · DOI

Government health information

The U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health summarizes the evidence on qigong.

Study list: PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine), citation data only. Trials: ClinicalTrials.gov. Retrieved 2026-10-22.

Data: PubMed (NLM citation data, free to use (abstracts not reproduced)); ClinicalTrials.gov (Public domain (U.S. Government work)); NCCIH (Public domain (U.S. Government work)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.