Author: Teut M, Knilli J, Daus D, Roll S, Witt CM
Conference/Journal: J Pain.
Date published: 2016 Mar 29
Other:
Pages: S1526-5900(16)00593-9 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2016.03.003. [Epub ahead of print] , Word Count: 240
The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the reduction of chronic lower back pain in older adults using either yoga classes or qigong classes compared with no intervention. Older adults (≥ 65 years of age) with chronic low back pain were enrolled in and randomly allocated to 1) yoga (24 classes, 45 minutes each, during 3 months), 2) qigong (12 classes, 90 min each, during 3 months) or 3) a control group who received no additional intervention. The pain-intensity item of the Functional Rating Index after 3 months was used as primary outcome parameter. A total of 176 patients were randomized, (n=61 yoga, 58 qigong, 57 control; mean age 73 ± 5.6 years, 89% female). The mean adjusted pain intensity after three months was 1.71 for the yoga group (95% CI: 1.54; 1.89), 1.67 for the qigong group (1.45; 1.89) and 1.89 for no intervention (1.67; 2.11). No statistically significant group differences were observed. Possible explanations for this lack of pain relief might include the ineffectiveness of interventions, inappropriate outcomes, or differences in pain perception and processing in older adults.
PERSPECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the reduction of chronic lower back pain in older adults using either yoga classes or qigong classes compared with no intervention. This three-armed randomized trial with 176 older adults showed that yoga and qigong were not superior to no treatment in reducing pain and increasing quality of life.
Copyright © 2016 American Pain Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS: Low Back Pain; Older Adults; Qigong; Yoga
PMID: 27046802 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]