Objective  To observe the effect of water-based Liuzijue on lung function, airway resistance, exercise tolerance and living quality of patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

  Methods  Sixty patients with stable COPD were randomly divided into three groups. The control group was treated with conventional western medicine treatment, the land-based Liuzijue group was treated with conventional western medicine treatment and land-based Liuzijue practice, and the water-based Liuzijue group was treated with conventional western medicine treatment and water-based Liuzijue practice. Lung function, airway resistance, exercise tolerance and living quality score were recorded before treatment and 6 months after treatment.

  Results  After treatment, the forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV₁) of the water-based Liuzijue group was higher than that of the land-based Liuzijue group and the control group, and the land-based Liuzijue group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). The improvement effect of the first second forced expiratory rate (FEV₁%) in water and ground groups was better than that in control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). After treatment, the respiratory viscosity resistance at 5 Hz(R5Hz) of the water-based Liuzijue group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the 6 min walking test (6MWT) of the water-based Liuzijue group was significantly longer than that of the land-based Liuzijue group and the control group, and the land-based Liuzijue group was significantly longer than that of the control group (P < 0.05).

  Conclusion  The efficacy of Liuzijue practice combined with conventional western medicine is superior to that of conventional western medicine alone, and it can improve lung function, enhance the living quality, and increase exercise tolerance.