Qigong and Acupressure for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy
Qigong and Acupressure for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common and often lingering side effect of many cancer treatments, causing numbness, tingling, pain, and functional limitations in hands and feet. A recent randomized controlled trial evaluated whether combining qigong, a mind-body movement practice, with self-administered acupressure could help reduce CIPN symptoms in cancer patients experiencing these nerve-related side effects.
In this study, patients with established CIPN were randomly assigned either to a 16-week intervention of combined qigong and self-administered acupressure or to a waitlist control group. The researchers assessed neuropathy severity using validated self-reported symptom scales, as well as measures of physical performance and health-related quality of life before and after the intervention period.
The group that participated in qigong and acupressure reported significantly greater reductions in neuropathy severity compared with the control group, along with improvements in physical performance and overall quality of life. Although objective measures of nerve function and grip strength did not show statistically significant differences, the meaningful improvement in patient-reported symptoms suggests the intervention helped individuals better tolerate chronic neuropathy.
While these results are promising, this study used a waitlist control rather than an active comparator, and further research is needed to confirm benefits across diverse cancer populations and treatment types. Nonetheless, the findings support the potential of integrating gentle movement practices and acupressure as part of comprehensive supportive care to help patients manage the long-term side effects of chemotherapy.
Reference:
Cheung DST, Yeung WF, Chau PH, Chan SY, Chan WL, Yeh CH, Lao L, Zhang Z, Lin CC. Improving chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in cancer patients using a combined qigong and self-administered acupressure intervention: a randomized controlled trial. ESMO Open. 2025;10(9):105565. doi:10.1016/j.esmoop.2025.105565. PMID: 40840230; PMCID: PMC12529305.
