NCT04164225

Feasibility of Identifying Brain Mechanisms of Qigong and Behavioral Outcomes After Qigong Practice in People With Chronic Low Back Pain

Identifying Brain Mechanisms Related to Body Awareness Using QiGong to Relieve Chronic Low Back Pain

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Minnesota · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 70 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The long-term objective of this investigation is to identify how Qigong affects brain function in brain areas relevant to patients with chronic low back pain (cLBP), thereby setting a foundation from which to perform further clinical research.

Detailed description

The central hypothesis of this investigation is that, in adults with cLBP, practicing Qigong compared to exercise will result in reduced pain and improved body awareness and proprioception (primary behavioral endpoints), disability, balance, core muscle strength, and other CLBP symptoms will be secondary behavioral endpoints.To test this hypothesis, the investigators will assess (1) participant recruitment and retention ; (2) adherence to interventions, engagement/satisfaction with the program; and (3) changes in body awareness-related brain activation and connectivity pre-post intervention (Qigong vs exercise) related to primary endpoints of pain perception, body awareness and objective measures of lower limb proprioception.

Conditions

• Low Back Pain

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Qigong Exercise	Participants with chronic low back pain will follow the free "5 elements Qigong healing class" (estimate of 6 hours) at the Spring Forest Qigong center and then practice the "5 elements healing Qigong" at home 3 times a week for 40 minutes with a freely available online video, for 12 weeks. A weekly group session (1 hour) will be conducted at the Brain Body Mind Lab with the principal investigator to address questions and demonstrate movements if needed.
BEHAVIORAL	P.Volve Exercises	P.Volve exercise focuses on low impact core strengthening, core stabilization, and stretching. The program is similar in delivery as Qigong (i.e., online videos). An introductory class (estimate of 2.5h) will be given by the P.Volve team, the principal investigator, and a physical therapist who has experience with P.Volve exercises. Participants will access online videos for individual home practice in 40min/session, 3x/week for 12 weeks. Participants will receive a P.ball for some exercises, while other exercises are done with no equipment. Tailored videos will be available for those with cLBP. A weekly group session (1 hour) will be conducted at the Brain Body Mind Lab with the principal investigator to address questions and demonstrate movements if needed.

Timeline

• Start date: 2020-01-21
• Primary completion: 2028-06-30
• Completion: 2028-06-30
• First posted: 2019-11-15
• Last updated: 2025-10-09

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States