None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
One in ten Australians suffer from long-term low back pain (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2000). Long-term low back pain is extremely difficult to treat because it does not respond to most treatments, leading to an enormous social and economic burden. Exercise therapy may provide a potential solution as there is biological plausibility for effect. However, the types of exercise to be used and resulting efficacy have not been well established. Tai chi has been used as an exercise prescription as part of Traditional Chinese Medicine for many years. Recent studies have shown that tai chi is a safe exercise for elderly adults suffering from arthritis (Kirstiens 1991). Since a high percentage of patients with long-term low back pain are over 55yrs, tai chi should also be considered as a potential exercise in the treatment plan for this group. However, there are few randomised controlled trials studying tai chi and its efficacy for improving pain is not well known. We propose to conduct the first randomised-controlled trial of tai chi exercise for those who have long-term low back pain, which will inform best practice for managing long-term low back pain in clinical settings.
Interventions
Tai Chi Exercise Program: based on sun style tai chi, which compared to other styles of tai chi, involves less deep-knee bending promoting a more upright stance, a decreased stepping distance which utilizes more forward, backward and side-stepping movements. This tai chi program has 21 moves in total and was designed by Dr. Paul Lam, General Physician and Tai Chi Master. It has been entitled Tai Chi for Back Pain and can be viewed on DVD of same name. The dosage of treatment will be18 sessions o
Tai Chi Exercise Program: based on sun style tai chi, which compared to other styles of tai chi, involves less deep-knee bending promoting a more upright stance, a decreased stepping distance which utilizes more forward, backward and side-stepping movements. This tai chi program has 21 moves in total and was designed by Dr. Paul Lam, General Physician and Tai Chi Master. It has been entitled Tai Chi for Back Pain and can be viewed on DVD of same name. The dosage of treatment will be18 sessions over a 10 week period (2x/week for 8 weeks and 1x/week for 2 weeks). This dosage is consistent recent tai chi research and reflects the norm for general tai chi practice in the community.
Sponsors
Faculty of Medicine, The University of Sydney
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 75 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
1. Non-specific low back pain +/- leg pain of at least 3 months duration. 2. A score of “moderate” or higher on item 7 or 8 of the SF-36 3. Not currently receiving any new treatments within the last 4 weeks for their low back pain 4. Agree not to seek any new treatments for their back pain during the course of the trial 5. Aged greater than 18 and less than 75 years 6. English Speaker 7. Literate in English 8. Expects to continue residing in Sydney for study duration.
Exclusion criteria
1. Suspected or confirmed serious spinal pathology (fracture, metastatic, inflammatory or infective diseases of the spine, cauda equina syndrome/widespread neurological disorder). 2. Suspected or confirmed pregnancy 3. Unable to speak English 4. Nerve root compromise (2 of strength, reflex or sensation affected for same nerve root) 5. Spinal surgery. 6. Scheduled for major surgery during treatment or follow-up period 7. Any of the contraindications to exercise listed on page 42 of the American College of Sports Medicine guidelines (ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, 1995). 8. If participant is receiving workers compensation, all relevant treatment parties need to agree to Tai Chi treatment. 9. Participation in a tai chi program within the last 6 months.
Outcome results
None listed