Harnessing an ancient practice
A complementary therapy could improve the lives of HIV patients By Galena Mosovich | Photos by Ben Guzman hen life stressors started getting the
W
healing practice of tai chi was born from the
uninsured, there’s a brand-new wellness
best of her, FIU researcher Gladys
foundations of qigong.
center space for exercise programs. Here,
Ibañez turned to kung fu to cope.
“Kung fu is intimidating for beginners or for
Ibañez will recruit from a culturally diverse
The traditional Chinese martial art was more
those who may think they’re too out of shape.
group of existing patients. They will receive
than a form of fitness for her; the practice
While these perceptions are usually false, we
one of three versions of care: a full qigong
became therapy as it trained her to stay calm
thought a gentler practice would be easier for
intervention; a sham treatment (guided
amidst the chaos of life.
our demographic to embrace,” said Ibañez.
movements but without a focus on breathing
That was nearly a decade ago, and the
After more than 15 years of traditional HIV
or meditation); or a standard care treatment
daily ritual has served Ibañez well. Now
research, this is the first project in which
(typical antiretroviral therapy without any
the HIV researcher and professor in the
Ibañez will be able to integrate alternative
exercise or meditation).
Department of Epidemiology within the
approaches to care into her work.
Robert Stempel College of Public Health and
“I’ve always hoped to do a study on
Ibañez is collaborating with Linda Larkey of Arizona State University, who found success
Social Work is looking to transmute what
the health benefits of mind-body-spirit
in using qigong to improve the health and
has helped her personally into a professional
approaches such as qigong, yoga and
well-being of breast cancer survivors, and
endeavor that could help others in times of
meditation. This project allows me to do
Kristopher Fennie of Stempel College, who
stress and uncertainty.
just that with an aging HIV community,”
will contribute his expertise in data analysis
Ibañez said. “I’ll be pilot testing my qigong
and management.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health within the National
intervention specifically for underserved
Institutes of Health is funding Ibañez with a
seniors living with HIV, and I’m eager to see
her own lifelong practice of yoga and
$600,000 grant as she attempts to reduce
the impact.”
meditation. She used the gentle and easy-
the physical and psychological symptoms
In the U.S., 50 percent of individuals
Larkey’s interest in qigong sprang from
to-adopt practices to support patients with
of HIV in elderly adults through the ancient
infected with HIV are older than 50, and this
issues ranging from hypertension to cancer
Chinese mind-body-spirit practice of qigong
estimate is expected to rise to 70 percent
remission, and the beneficial outcomes were
(pronounced chee-gung).
by 2020. There’s a dire need to establish
inspiring. Assessing patients before and after
Qigong dates back approximately 5,000
innovative and accessible interventions that
the intervention period, including several
years and incorporates meditation, controlled
can assist older people living with the virus.
months out, she found improvement in levels
breathing and gentle movements that can
At the Midtown Miami location of
ultimately cleanse and re-energize the
Borinquen Medical Centers of Miami-Dade,
internal organs; the more commercialized
where most patients are low-income and
of fatigue, depression and cognitive function. Larkey utilizes a modified practice that blends qigong with repetitive tai chi
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