A Tai chi and qigong mind-body program for low back pain: A virtually delivered randomized control trial

Yang Yang, PhD; Sydne McCluskey, PhD; Mohamad Bydon, MD; Jaspal Ricky Singh, MD; Robert D. Sheeler, MD; Karim Rizwan Nathani, MBBS; Ana C. Krieger, MD, MPH; Neel D. Mehta, MD; Joshua Weaver, MD; Libin Jia, MD; Sharon DeCelle, MS, PT, LPC; Robert C. Schlagal, PhD; Jay Ayar, DrPH (c), MPH, BDS; Sahar Abduljawad, DrPH (c), MPH; Steven D. Stovitz, MD, MS; Ravindra Ganesh, MBBS, MD; Jay Verkuilen, PhD; Kenneth A. Knapp, PhD; Lin Yang, PhD; Roger Härtl, MD

North American Spine Society Journal (Dec 2024)

A Tai chi and qigong mind-body program for low back pain: A virtually delivered randomized control trial

Yang Yang, PhD,
Sydne McCluskey, PhD,
Mohamad Bydon, MD,
Jaspal Ricky Singh, MD,
Robert D. Sheeler, MD,
Karim Rizwan Nathani, MBBS,
Ana C. Krieger, MD, MPH,
Neel D. Mehta, MD,
Joshua Weaver, MD,
Libin Jia, MD,
Sharon DeCelle, MS, PT, LPC,
Robert C. Schlagal, PhD,
Jay Ayar, DrPH (c), MPH, BDS,
Sahar Abduljawad, DrPH (c), MPH,
Steven D. Stovitz, MD, MS,
Ravindra Ganesh, MBBS, MD,
Jay Verkuilen, PhD,
Kenneth A. Knapp, PhD,
Lin Yang, PhD,
Roger Härtl, MD

Affiliations

Yang Yang, PhD: Center for Taiji and Qigong Studies, 151 E 81st St 7D, New York, NY 10028, United States; Corresponding author. Research Department, Center for Taiji and Qigong Studies, 151 E 81st St, 7D, New York, NY 10028, USA.
Sydne McCluskey, PhD: Educational Psychology Program, CUNY Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Av, New York, NY 10016, United States
Mohamad Bydon, MD: Department of Neurological Surgery, Neuro-Informatics Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st St SW, Rochester, MN 55905, United States
Jaspal Ricky Singh, MD: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 525 E. 68th St, New York, NY 10065, United States
Robert D. Sheeler, MD: Department of Family Medicine, Mayo Clinic, College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, Next Level Concierge Care, 10250 N 92nd St Suite 210, Scottsdale, AZ 85258, United States
Karim Rizwan Nathani, MBBS: Department of Neurological Surgery, Neuro-Informatics Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st St SW, Rochester, MN 55905, United States
Ana C. Krieger, MD, MPH: Weill Cornell Center for Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, 425 East 61st St - 5th floor, New York, NY 10065, United States
Neel D. Mehta, MD: Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Pain Management, Och Spine at Weill Cornell Medicine/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, 240 East 59th St, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10022, United States
Joshua Weaver, MD: Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1305 York Ave, Floor 2, New York, NY 10021, United States
Libin Jia, MD: Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Dr. 1W704, Rockville, MD 20850, United States
Sharon DeCelle, MS, PT, LPC: Private Practice, 309 E Holmes St, Urbana, IL 61801, United States
Robert C. Schlagal, PhD: Department of Reading Education and Special Education, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina, 4717 Valero Ct, Laredo, TX 78046, United States
Jay Ayar, DrPH (c), MPH, BDS: Department of Public Health, School of Health Sciences and Practice, New York Medical College, 40 Sunshine Cottage Road, Valhalla, NY 10595, United States
Sahar Abduljawad, DrPH (c), MPH: Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Mill City Clinic, 901 South 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55415, United States
Steven D. Stovitz, MD, MS: Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Mill City Clinic, 901 South 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55415, United States
Ravindra Ganesh, MBBS, MD: Division of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 1st St SW, Rochester, MN 55905, United States
Jay Verkuilen, PhD: Educational Psychology Program, CUNY Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10016, United States
Kenneth A. Knapp, PhD: Department of Public Health, School of Health Sciences and Practice, New York Medical College, 40 Sunshine Cottage Road, Valhalla, NY 10595, United States
Lin Yang, PhD: Department of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research, Cancer Care Alberta, Alberta Health Services, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Departments of Oncology and Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 5th Floor, Holy Cross Centre, Box ACB, 2210 - 2 St. SW, Calgary AB T2S 3C3, Canada
Roger Härtl, MD: Department of Neurological Surgery, Division of Spine Surgery, Och Spine at Weill Cornell Medicine/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, 525 East 68th St, Box 99, New York, NY 10065, United States

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 20
p. 100557

Abstract

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ABSTRACT: 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.

Published in North American Spine Society Journal

ISSN: 2666-5484 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Surgery: Orthopedic surgery; Medicine: Internal medicine: Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry: Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/north-american-spine-society-journal-nassj/

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