Objectives. To compare the shoulder mobility, muscular strength, and quality of life (QOL) among
breast cancer survivors with and without
Tai Chi (TC)
Qigong training to those of healthy individuals and to explore the associations between shoulder impairments and QOL in
breast cancer survivors with regular TC
Qigong training. Methods. Eleven
breast cancer survivors with regular TC
Qigong training, 12 sedentary
breast cancer survivors, and 16 healthy participants completed the study. Shoulder mobility and rotator muscle strength were assessed by goniometry and isokinetic dynamometer, respectively. QOL was assessed using the Functional Assessment of
Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B) questionnaire. Results. Goniometric measurements of the active range of motion in the flexion, abduction, and hand-behind-the-back directions were similar among the three groups. The TC
Qigong-trained
breast cancer survivors had significantly higher isokinetic peak torques of the shoulder rotator muscles (at 180°/s) than untrained survivors, and their isokinetic shoulder muscular strength reached the level of healthy individuals. Greater shoulder muscular strength was significantly associated with better functional wellbeing in
breast cancer survivors with TC
Qigong training. However, no significant between-group difference was found in FACT-B total scores. Conclusions. TC
Qigong training might improve shoulder muscular strength and functional wellbeing in
breast cancer survivors.