Spring Forest Qigong and Chronic Pain: Making a Difference.

Purpose: Research completed in Asia on various forms of qigong over time has repeatedly linked the practice to positive health outcomes. To demonstrate that Spring Forest Qigong (SFQ) knowledge is easily accessible, promotes self-efficacy, and has measurable health benefits, a pilot study on SFQ and chronic pain was designed. Design: This mixed-methods study oriented 122 subjects to Level 1 SFQ. Method: Participants were required to complete four symptom surveys (including the Visual Analog Scale), attend three group meetings (beginning, middle, end of study), practice SFQ for 30 minutes per day for 8 weeks, and keep a practice record. Findings: Pearson correlation coefficients were computed pairwise between the symptom surveys. Pearson's chi-square tests were used to assess the association of these variables between the four survey time points, with statistical significance assessed at α = .05. The hypothesis was statistically supported. The active exercise and the meditation aspects of SFQ are effective self-care modalities for persons with perceived chronic physical pain and/or emotional distress. Conclusions: Subjects (n = 86) demonstrated significant improvement both statistically and anecdotally during the study period. Clinical relevance: Findings indicate that health care providers could promote this promising evidenced-based modality for adults to actualize heath promotion practices.