A randomized controlled trial of qigong for fibromyalgia

Mary Lynch; Jana Sawynok; Chok Hiew; Dana Marcon

doi:10.1186/ar3931

A randomized controlled trial of qigong for fibromyalgia

Mary Lynch, Jana Sawynok, Chok Hiew, Dana Marcon

Medicine

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

63 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Introduction: Fibromyalgia is difficult to treat and requires the use of multiple approaches. This study is a randomized controlled trial of qigong compared with a wait-list control group in fibromyalgia.Methods: One hundred participants were randomly assigned to immediate or delayed practice groups, with the delayed group receiving training at the end of the control period. Qigong training (level 1 Chaoyi Fanhuan Qigong, CFQ), given over three half-days, was followed by weekly review/practice sessions for eight weeks; participants were also asked to practice at home for 45 to 60 minutes per day for this interval. Outcomes were pain, impact, sleep, physical function and mental function, and these were recorded at baseline, eight weeks, four months and six months. Immediate and delayed practice groups were analyzed individually compared to the control group, and as a combination group.Results: In both the immediate and delayed treatment groups, CFQ demonstrated significant improvements in pain, impact, sleep, physical function and mental function when compared to the wait-list/usual care control group at eight weeks, with benefits extending beyond this time. Analysis of combined data indicated significant changes for all measures at all times for six months, with only one exception. Post-hoc analysis based on self-reported practice times indicated greater benefit with the per protocol group compared to minimal practice.Conclusions: This study demonstrates that CFQ, a particular form of qigong, provides long-term benefits in several core domains in fibromyalgia. CFQ may be a useful adjuvant self-care treatment for fibromyalgia.Trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov NCT00938834.

Original language	English
Article number	R178
Journal	Arthritis Research and Therapy
Volume	14
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/ar3931
Publication status	Published - Aug 3 2012

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We thank Colleen O’Connell, PhD, Research Methods Unit, Community Health and Epidemiology, Dalhousie University for statistical analysis of data. We also thank Ben Rusak, PhD, Department of Psychology and Psychiatry, Dalhousie University for helpful advice with respect to sleep assessment tools. Paulette Nauss and Joan Falkenham provided valuable contributions as clinical trial organizers and coordinators. We also thank Allison Reid for assistance with preparation of the figures for the manuscript. This study was funded by a Pfizer Neuropathic Pain Research Award 1Departments of Anesthesiology, Psychiatry and Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, QEII Health Sciences Centre, 4th floor, Dickson Centre, 5820 University Avenue, Halifax, NS B3H 1V7, Canada. 2Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, 5850 College Street, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada. 3330 Woodbridge Street, Fredericton, NB, Canada. 46178 Quinpool Road, Halifax, NS, Canada.

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Rheumatology
Immunology and Allergy
Immunology

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10.1186/ar3931

Cite this

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title = "A randomized controlled trial of qigong for fibromyalgia",

abstract = "Introduction: Fibromyalgia is difficult to treat and requires the use of multiple approaches. This study is a randomized controlled trial of qigong compared with a wait-list control group in fibromyalgia.Methods: One hundred participants were randomly assigned to immediate or delayed practice groups, with the delayed group receiving training at the end of the control period. Qigong training (level 1 Chaoyi Fanhuan Qigong, CFQ), given over three half-days, was followed by weekly review/practice sessions for eight weeks; participants were also asked to practice at home for 45 to 60 minutes per day for this interval. Outcomes were pain, impact, sleep, physical function and mental function, and these were recorded at baseline, eight weeks, four months and six months. Immediate and delayed practice groups were analyzed individually compared to the control group, and as a combination group.Results: In both the immediate and delayed treatment groups, CFQ demonstrated significant improvements in pain, impact, sleep, physical function and mental function when compared to the wait-list/usual care control group at eight weeks, with benefits extending beyond this time. Analysis of combined data indicated significant changes for all measures at all times for six months, with only one exception. Post-hoc analysis based on self-reported practice times indicated greater benefit with the per protocol group compared to minimal practice.Conclusions: This study demonstrates that CFQ, a particular form of qigong, provides long-term benefits in several core domains in fibromyalgia. CFQ may be a useful adjuvant self-care treatment for fibromyalgia.Trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov NCT00938834.",

author = "Mary Lynch and Jana Sawynok and Chok Hiew and Dana Marcon",

note = "Funding Information: We thank Colleen O{\textquoteright}Connell, PhD, Research Methods Unit, Community Health and Epidemiology, Dalhousie University for statistical analysis of data. We also thank Ben Rusak, PhD, Department of Psychology and Psychiatry, Dalhousie University for helpful advice with respect to sleep assessment tools. Paulette Nauss and Joan Falkenham provided valuable contributions as clinical trial organizers and coordinators. We also thank Allison Reid for assistance with preparation of the figures for the manuscript. This study was funded by a Pfizer Neuropathic Pain Research Award 1Departments of Anesthesiology, Psychiatry and Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, QEII Health Sciences Centre, 4th floor, Dickson Centre, 5820 University Avenue, Halifax, NS B3H 1V7, Canada. 2Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, 5850 College Street, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada. 3330 Woodbridge Street, Fredericton, NB, Canada. 46178 Quinpool Road, Halifax, NS, Canada.",

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N2 - Introduction: Fibromyalgia is difficult to treat and requires the use of multiple approaches. This study is a randomized controlled trial of qigong compared with a wait-list control group in fibromyalgia.Methods: One hundred participants were randomly assigned to immediate or delayed practice groups, with the delayed group receiving training at the end of the control period. Qigong training (level 1 Chaoyi Fanhuan Qigong, CFQ), given over three half-days, was followed by weekly review/practice sessions for eight weeks; participants were also asked to practice at home for 45 to 60 minutes per day for this interval. Outcomes were pain, impact, sleep, physical function and mental function, and these were recorded at baseline, eight weeks, four months and six months. Immediate and delayed practice groups were analyzed individually compared to the control group, and as a combination group.Results: In both the immediate and delayed treatment groups, CFQ demonstrated significant improvements in pain, impact, sleep, physical function and mental function when compared to the wait-list/usual care control group at eight weeks, with benefits extending beyond this time. Analysis of combined data indicated significant changes for all measures at all times for six months, with only one exception. Post-hoc analysis based on self-reported practice times indicated greater benefit with the per protocol group compared to minimal practice.Conclusions: This study demonstrates that CFQ, a particular form of qigong, provides long-term benefits in several core domains in fibromyalgia. CFQ may be a useful adjuvant self-care treatment for fibromyalgia.Trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov NCT00938834.

AB - Introduction: Fibromyalgia is difficult to treat and requires the use of multiple approaches. This study is a randomized controlled trial of qigong compared with a wait-list control group in fibromyalgia.Methods: One hundred participants were randomly assigned to immediate or delayed practice groups, with the delayed group receiving training at the end of the control period. Qigong training (level 1 Chaoyi Fanhuan Qigong, CFQ), given over three half-days, was followed by weekly review/practice sessions for eight weeks; participants were also asked to practice at home for 45 to 60 minutes per day for this interval. Outcomes were pain, impact, sleep, physical function and mental function, and these were recorded at baseline, eight weeks, four months and six months. Immediate and delayed practice groups were analyzed individually compared to the control group, and as a combination group.Results: In both the immediate and delayed treatment groups, CFQ demonstrated significant improvements in pain, impact, sleep, physical function and mental function when compared to the wait-list/usual care control group at eight weeks, with benefits extending beyond this time. Analysis of combined data indicated significant changes for all measures at all times for six months, with only one exception. Post-hoc analysis based on self-reported practice times indicated greater benefit with the per protocol group compared to minimal practice.Conclusions: This study demonstrates that CFQ, a particular form of qigong, provides long-term benefits in several core domains in fibromyalgia. CFQ may be a useful adjuvant self-care treatment for fibromyalgia.Trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov NCT00938834.

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A randomized controlled trial of qigong for fibromyalgia

Abstract

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ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

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