Eight-Section Brocades and Yijin Jing consist of some routine movements that are too difficult for frail elders. A novel health Qigong protocol was developed and its effectiveness for frail elders was examined using a randomized clinical trial (RCT). An expert panel performed functional anatomy analysis and safety field test prior to the RCT. The experimental group (n = 61, 83 +/- 6 yr) was given a 12-week Qigong exercise program, while the comparison group (n = 55, 84 +/- 6 yr) participated in a newspaper reading program with the same duration and frequency. Pre-, mid-, post-, and follow-up assessments were conducted. At 12 weeks, the Qigong group had significant improvements in thinking operations (F = 4.05, p = 0.02) and significant reduction of resting heart rate (F = 3.14, p = 0.045) as compared to the newspaper reading group. A trend of improvements in grip strength and a decreasing trend of depression levels were observed among the Qigong group. Significant perceived improvements in physical health (F = 13.01, p = 0.001), activities of daily living (F = 5.32, p = 0.03), and overall health status (F = 15.26, p = 0.0001) were found. There are improvements in some aspects of psychosocial, cognitive, physical, and physiological domains. Clinical applications and possibilities for further research are discussed.

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