TY - JOUR
T1 - A Tai chi and qigong mind-body program for low back pain
T2 - A virtually delivered randomized control trial
AU - Yang, Yang
AU - McCluskey, Sydne
AU - Bydon, Mohamad
AU - Singh, Jaspal Ricky
AU - Sheeler, Robert D.
AU - Nathani, Karim Rizwan
AU - Krieger, Ana C.
AU - Mehta, Neel D.
AU - Weaver, Joshua
AU - Jia, Libin
AU - DeCelle, Sharon
AU - Schlagal, Robert C.
AU - Ayar, Jay
AU - Abduljawad, Sahar
AU - Stovitz, Steven D.
AU - Ganesh, Ravindra
AU - Verkuilen, Jay
AU - Knapp, Kenneth A.
AU - Yang, Lin
AU - Härtl, Roger
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Author(s)
PY - 2024/12
Y1 - 2024/12
N2 - Background: Mind-body treatments have the potential to manage pain, yet their effectiveness when delivered online for the treatment of low back pain (LBP) is unknown. We sought to evaluate whether a virtually delivered mind-body program integrating tai chi, qigong, and meditation (VDTQM) is effective for treating LBP. Methods: This randomized controlled trial compared VDTQM (n=175) to waitlist control (n=175). Eligible participants were at least 18 years old, had LBP for at least 6 weeks, were not pregnant, had not previously taken tai chi classes, and had not undergone spine surgery within 6 months. The treatment group received a 12-week VDTQM program in live online 60-minute twice-weekly group classes from September 2022 to December 2022. All participants continued their usual activities and care. Primary outcome was pain-related disability assessed by the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score. Secondary outcomes included pain intensity, sleep quality, and quality of life (QOL). Intent-to-treat analyses were conducted. Results: Of the 350 participants 278 (79%) were female, mean age was 58.8 years (range: 21–92), 244 (69.7%) completed the 8-week survey, 248 (70.9%) the 12-week, and 238 (68%) the 16 -week. No participants withdrew due to adverse treatment effects. Compared with control group, treatment group experienced statistically and clinically significant improvement in ODI score by −4.7 (95% CI: −6.24 to −3.16, p<.01), −6.42 (95% CI: −7.96 to −4.88, p<.01), and −8.14 (95% CI: −9.68 to −6.59, p<.01) points at weeks 8, 12, and 16, respectively. Treatment group also experienced statistically significant improvement at all time points in the other outcomes. Conclusions: Among adults with LBP, VDTQM treatment resulted in small to moderate improvements in pain-related disability, pain intensity, sleep quality, and QOL. Improvements persisted 1 month after treatment concluded. These findings suggest VDTQM may be a viable treatment option for patients with LBP. Trial registration: clincaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT05801588.
AB - Background: Mind-body treatments have the potential to manage pain, yet their effectiveness when delivered online for the treatment of low back pain (LBP) is unknown. We sought to evaluate whether a virtually delivered mind-body program integrating tai chi, qigong, and meditation (VDTQM) is effective for treating LBP. Methods: This randomized controlled trial compared VDTQM (n=175) to waitlist control (n=175). Eligible participants were at least 18 years old, had LBP for at least 6 weeks, were not pregnant, had not previously taken tai chi classes, and had not undergone spine surgery within 6 months. The treatment group received a 12-week VDTQM program in live online 60-minute twice-weekly group classes from September 2022 to December 2022. All participants continued their usual activities and care. Primary outcome was pain-related disability assessed by the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score. Secondary outcomes included pain intensity, sleep quality, and quality of life (QOL). Intent-to-treat analyses were conducted. Results: Of the 350 participants 278 (79%) were female, mean age was 58.8 years (range: 21–92), 244 (69.7%) completed the 8-week survey, 248 (70.9%) the 12-week, and 238 (68%) the 16 -week. No participants withdrew due to adverse treatment effects. Compared with control group, treatment group experienced statistically and clinically significant improvement in ODI score by −4.7 (95% CI: −6.24 to −3.16, p<.01), −6.42 (95% CI: −7.96 to −4.88, p<.01), and −8.14 (95% CI: −9.68 to −6.59, p<.01) points at weeks 8, 12, and 16, respectively. Treatment group also experienced statistically significant improvement at all time points in the other outcomes. Conclusions: Among adults with LBP, VDTQM treatment resulted in small to moderate improvements in pain-related disability, pain intensity, sleep quality, and QOL. Improvements persisted 1 month after treatment concluded. These findings suggest VDTQM may be a viable treatment option for patients with LBP. Trial registration: clincaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT05801588.
KW - Back pain
KW - Meditation
KW - Mind-body
KW - Nonpharmacological intervention
KW - Qigong
KW - Randomized controlled trial
KW - Tai chi
KW - Telerehabilitation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85206444628&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85206444628&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.xnsj.2024.100557
DO - 10.1016/j.xnsj.2024.100557
M3 - Article
C2 - 39469294
AN - SCOPUS:85206444628
SN - 2666-5484
VL - 20
JO - North American Spine Society Journal
JF - North American Spine Society Journal
M1 - 100557
ER -