Low Back Pain
Conditions
Keywords
qigong, traditional chinese medicine, exercise therapy, low back pain
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of qigong for the treatment of low back pain compared to a stabilizing exercise therapy.
Interventions
PROCEDUREqigong
one therapy session once a week during three months, that is 12 therapy sessions altogether
PROCEDUREexercise therapy
one therapy session once a week during three months, that is 12 therapy sessions altogether
Sponsors
Charite University, Berlin, Germany
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
20 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* clinical diagnosis of chronic low back pain since at least 3 months and complaints for a maximum duration of 5 years * low back pain more prominent than other pain in the spine * average pain intensity of the last 7 days more or equal to 40 mm measured by a visual analogue scale (VAS 0 - 100 mm) * intellectual and physical ability to participate in the study * informed consent
Exclusion criteria
* low back pain related to malignancy * low back pain due to an accident * inflammatory joint disorders * previous spine surgery * protrusion/prolapse of a spinal disk, spondylolisthesis, with radicular symptomatology * actually doing or planning to do other regular physical exercise during the study with possible positive effects on low back pain - such as swimming, yoga, pilates, tai chi, etc. * planning to do another therapy during the study with possible positive effects in low back pain, such as physiotherapy, acupuncture, massage, spinal manipulation etc. * use of pain drugs for other diseases (\> 1x/week) * pregnancy * severe chronic or acute disease interfering with therapy attendance * alcohol or substance abuse * participation in another clinical trial in the last 6 months before study entry
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| average pain intensity during the last 7 days measured on a visual analogue scale (VAS) | baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| health related quality of life (SF 36) | baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months |
| credibility of the therapy for patients | baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months |
| patient expectation and self efficacy | baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months |
| disability (Roland-Morris-Questionnaire RMQ) | baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months |
| sleep quality | baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months |
| undesired effects | baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months |
| therapist's expectation | baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months |
Countries
Germany
Outcome results
None listed