Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2006; 11: 27
The aim of this systematic review is to assess the clinical evidence of qigong as a treatment option for pain conditions.
Databases were searched up to April 2006. RCTs testing qigong in patients with pain of any origin assessing clinical outcomes were considered. Trials using any type of control group were included. The selection of studies, data extraction and validation were performed independently by at least two reviewers.
Seventy-six potentially relevant studies were identified and 11 RCTs could be included. Six trials tested internal qigong and five trials tested external qigong. All RCTs of external qigong demonstrated greater pain reductions in the qigong groups compared with controls. Meta-analysis of two RCTs showed a significant effect of external qigong compared with general care for treating chronic pain (Pain VAS, WMD 36.3, 95% CI 22.8 to 49.8, P<0.001). Of the six RCTs testing internal qigong none reported intergroup differences. The extent of heterogeneity in these RCTs prevented a meaningful meta-analysis.
The evidence from RCTs testing the effectiveness of qigong for treating pain is mixed. For external qigong the evidence is sufficiently encouraging to warrant further study.
MS Lee was supported by the Korean Research Foundation Grant (M01-2005-000-10334-0).
