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Research Notes: QigongSee also: Mindfulness meditation and Tai Chi J Altern Complement Med. 2006 Nov. OBJECTIVES: Although qigong is an important part of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) based on a philosophy similar to acupuncture, few studies of qigong exist in the Western medicine literature. To evaluate qigong therapy as a modality in treating chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), we report a pilot trial of 10 women with severe FMS who experienced significant improvement after external qigong therapy (EQT). DESIGN: Ten patients with FMS completed five to seven sessions of EQT over 3 weeks with pre- and posttreatment assessment and a 3-month follow-up. Each treatment lasted approximately 40 minutes. OUTCOME MEASURES: Tender point count (TPC) and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) were the primary measures. McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), anxiety, and self-efficacy were the secondary outcomes. RESULTS: Subjects demonstrated improvement in functioning, pain, and other symptoms. The mean TPC was reduced from 136.6 to 59.5 after EQT treatment; mean MPQ decreased from 27.0 to 7.2; mean FIQ from 70.1 to 37.3; and mean BDI from 24.3 to 8.3 (all p < 0.01). Many subjects reported reductions in other FMS symptoms, and two reported they were completely symptom-free. Results from the 3-month follow-up indicated some slight rebound from the post-treatment measures, but still much better than those observed at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with EQT resulting in complete recovery for some FMS patients suggests that TCM may be very effective for treating pain and the multiplicity of symptoms associated with FMS. Larger controlled trials of this promising intervention are urgently needed. J Rehabil Med. 2004 Nov. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of body awareness therapy combined with qigong for patients with fibromyalgia. DESIGN: A controlled randomized pilot study. SUBJECTS: Thirty-six female patients with fibromyalgia were randomized to either qigong plus body awareness therapy (n = 19) or a control group (n = 17). METHODS: The programme was conducted once a week over a period of 3 months. The outcome measures were an observational method called the Body Awareness Rating Scale, the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire and 2 tests of physical function. An interview was conducted with the patients in the treatment group. RESULTS: Seven patients in each group (39%) were lost to the post-test examination. The inter-group analysis revealed a significant improvement in movement harmony for the treatment group (p = 0.03), while no differences were found in the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire or the functional tests. The intra-group analysis revealed an improvement in movement harmony for the treatment group (p = 0.01), while the total score of the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire deteriorated (p = 0.04) in the control group. The interviews indicated that several patients had experienced exacerbation of symptoms while standing still, and/or difficulty in concentrating on the movements. CONCLUSIONS: Although improvement in movement harmony occurred in the patients completing the treatment programme, no improvement was found for fibromyalgia symptoms or physical function. J Rheumatol. 2003 Oct. OBJECTIVE: To test the short and longterm benefits of an 8 week mind-body intervention that combined training in mindfulness meditation with Qigong movement therapy for individuals with fibromyalgia syndrome (FM). METHODS: A total of 128 individuals with FM were randomly assigned to the mind-body training program or an education support group that served as the control. Outcome measures were pain, disability (Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire), depression, myalgic score (number and severity of tender points), 6 minute walk time, and coping strategies, which were assessed at baseline and at 8, 16, and 24 weeks. RESULTS: Both groups registered statistically significant improvements across time for the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, Total Myalgic Score, Pain, and Depression, and no improvement in the number of feet traversed in the 6 minute walk. However, there was no difference in either the rate or magnitude of these changes between the mind-body training group and the education control group. Salutary changes occurring by the eighth week (which corresponded to the end of the mind-body and education control group sessions) were largely maintained by both groups throughout the 6 month followup period. CONCLUSION: While both groups showed improvement on a number of outcome variables, there was no evidence that the multimodal mind-body intervention for FM was superior to education and support as a treatment option. Additional randomized controlled trials are needed before interventions of this kind can be recommended for treatment of FM.
Master Li Jun Feng, former head coach for the world renowned Beijing Wushu Team of the People's Republic of China, demonstrates his form of Qigong called Sheng Zhen Wuji Yuan Gong. I've included this video clip here because most children with PWS do not move freely, instead their movements such as walking and running are marked by "hitches," jerkiness and general awkwardness. Although hypotonia is a well-recognized feature of PWS, once movement begins there is actually evidence of hypertonicity, perhaps even spasticity, which may be related to Dr. Lucy J. Miller's finding that although those with PWS have a lower initial level of neurological activity or baseline neurological arousal than controls, once they respond to a stimulus their level of arousal is slower to return to baseline than in controls. Anyway, the twisting, spiraling and flowing of the first two movements of this video strike me as perhaps being particularly appropriate for those with PWS. |