This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Patients with fibromyalgia benefited from Chinese exercise system
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Qigong, a Chinese system of physical exercise, mental focus and meditation, produced significant long-term benefits for patients with fibromyalgia, according to a study.
Researchers in Halifax, Nova Scotia, assigned 100 patients (mean age, 52 years) with fibromyalgia (mean duration, 9.6 years) into immediate Chaoyi Fanhuan Qigong (CFQ) training (n=53; 94% women) for 6 months or continued usual care (n=47; 98% women) for 6 months, followed by the same 6-month exercise training. Patients were taught choreographed movements emphasizing relaxation. This was followed by 60-minute weekly sessions for 8 weeks and self-practices at home for 45-60 minutes per day, which were encouraged for 6 months. Pain, impact, sleep plus physical and mental function were measured at the beginning of training and after 8 weeks, 4 months and 6 months via questionnaires. Forty-three patients (81.1%) completed the immediate CFQ training for 6 months and 30 patients (63.8%) completed their usual care for 6 months, followed by training for 6 months.
The numerical rating scale for pain intensity showed statistically significant reductions in pain at all times for the immediate and delayed CFQ groups compared with the wait group. Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire scores for the immediate and delayed groups were significantly reduced compared with the control group (P<.001). Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores significantly improved at 8 weeks for immediate and delayed groups. SF-36 Health Survey physical scores significantly improved at 8 weeks for immediate and delayed groups, and were maintained at 4 and 6 months. SF-36 mental scores significantly improved at 8 weeks, however, they did not differ from the controls at 4 and 6 months.
Combined data from immediate and delayed groups showed significant pain reduction at 8 weeks (P<.001), sustained at 4 months (P<.001) and 6 months (P=.003). Significant improvement in sleep and physical function was observed in the combination group during the 6 months.
“This study demonstrates that CFQ … provides long-term benefits in several core domains of fibromyalgia,” the researchers concluded. “CFQ may be a useful adjuvant self-care treatment for fibromyalgia.”
Disclosure: Chok Hiew, PhD, and Dana Marcon are community-based CFQ instructors. Hiew is a coauthor of several books on CFQ.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts