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Qigong and exercise therapy in patients with long-term neck pain : a prospective randomized trial

Lansinger, Birgitta ; Larsson, Elisabeth ; Persson, Liselott C LU and Carlsson, Jane Y (2007) In Spine 32(22). p.22-2415
Abstract

STUDY DESIGN: A randomized, controlled, multicenter trial: 1-year follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of qigong and exercise therapy in subjects with long-term nonspecific neck pain.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The evidence for the benefit of treatment programs focusing on persons with long-term, nonspecific neck pain is conflicting. Several studies have shown support for exercise therapy, but the efficacy of qigong has not been scientifically evaluated.

METHODS: A total of 122 patients were randomly assigned to receive either qigong (n = 60) or exercise therapy (n = 62). Most of them were women (70%), and the mean age was 44 years. A maximum of 12 treatments were given over a period of 3 months. Neck... (More)

STUDY DESIGN: A randomized, controlled, multicenter trial: 1-year follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of qigong and exercise therapy in subjects with long-term nonspecific neck pain.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The evidence for the benefit of treatment programs focusing on persons with long-term, nonspecific neck pain is conflicting. Several studies have shown support for exercise therapy, but the efficacy of qigong has not been scientifically evaluated.

METHODS: A total of 122 patients were randomly assigned to receive either qigong (n = 60) or exercise therapy (n = 62). Most of them were women (70%), and the mean age was 44 years. A maximum of 12 treatments were given over a period of 3 months. Neck pain frequency and intensity, neck disability (NDI), grip strength, and cervical range of motion were recorded before and immediately after, at 6 months, and at 12 months after the treatment period. Changes in outcome variables were analyzed and dichotomized as improved or unchanged/deteriorated.

RESULTS: Clinical and demographic characteristics were similar among groups at baseline. No differences were found between the 2 interventions: qigong and exercise therapy. Both groups significantly improved immediately after treatment and this was maintained at the 6- and 12-month follow-ups in 5 of 8 outcome variables: average neck pain in the most recent week, current neck pain (with exception for immediately after treatment period), neck pain diary, NDI, and cervical range of motion in rotation.

CONCLUSION: These results indicate that treatments including supervised qigong or exercise therapy resulting in reduced pain and disability can be recommended for persons with long-term nonspecific neck pain.

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author
; ; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
keywords
Adult, Aged, Breathing Exercises, Cervical Vertebrae, Disability Evaluation, Exercise Therapy, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Muscle Strength, Neck Pain, Pain Measurement, Patient Compliance, Prospective Studies, Range of Motion, Articular, Surveys and Questionnaires, Time, Treatment Outcome, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
in
Spine
volume
32
issue
22
pages
8 pages
publisher
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
external identifiers
  • pmid:18090079
  • scopus:37349124578
ISSN
0362-2436
DOI
10.1097/BRS.0b013e3181573b4b
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
37ce33a2-7a03-4d22-a952-3dd0e907aa5e
date added to LUP
2018-02-02 08:41:22
date last changed
2024-01-29 11:02:23
@article{37ce33a2-7a03-4d22-a952-3dd0e907aa5e,
  abstract     = {{<p>STUDY DESIGN: A randomized, controlled, multicenter trial: 1-year follow-up.</p><p>OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of qigong and exercise therapy in subjects with long-term nonspecific neck pain.</p><p>SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The evidence for the benefit of treatment programs focusing on persons with long-term, nonspecific neck pain is conflicting. Several studies have shown support for exercise therapy, but the efficacy of qigong has not been scientifically evaluated.</p><p>METHODS: A total of 122 patients were randomly assigned to receive either qigong (n = 60) or exercise therapy (n = 62). Most of them were women (70%), and the mean age was 44 years. A maximum of 12 treatments were given over a period of 3 months. Neck pain frequency and intensity, neck disability (NDI), grip strength, and cervical range of motion were recorded before and immediately after, at 6 months, and at 12 months after the treatment period. Changes in outcome variables were analyzed and dichotomized as improved or unchanged/deteriorated.</p><p>RESULTS: Clinical and demographic characteristics were similar among groups at baseline. No differences were found between the 2 interventions: qigong and exercise therapy. Both groups significantly improved immediately after treatment and this was maintained at the 6- and 12-month follow-ups in 5 of 8 outcome variables: average neck pain in the most recent week, current neck pain (with exception for immediately after treatment period), neck pain diary, NDI, and cervical range of motion in rotation.</p><p>CONCLUSION: These results indicate that treatments including supervised qigong or exercise therapy resulting in reduced pain and disability can be recommended for persons with long-term nonspecific neck pain.</p>}},
  author       = {{Lansinger, Birgitta and Larsson, Elisabeth and Persson, Liselott C and Carlsson, Jane Y}},
  issn         = {{0362-2436}},
  keywords     = {{Adult; Aged; Breathing Exercises; Cervical Vertebrae; Disability Evaluation; Exercise Therapy; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Muscle Strength; Neck Pain; Pain Measurement; Patient Compliance; Prospective Studies; Range of Motion, Articular; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time; Treatment Outcome; Comparative Study; Journal Article; Multicenter Study; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{22}},
  pages        = {{22--2415}},
  publisher    = {{Lippincott Williams & Wilkins}},
  series       = {{Spine}},
  title        = {{Qigong and exercise therapy in patients with long-term neck pain : a prospective randomized trial}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/BRS.0b013e3181573b4b}},
  doi          = {{10.1097/BRS.0b013e3181573b4b}},
  volume       = {{32}},
  year         = {{2007}},
}