Approximately 69% of 299,000 Americans with spinal cord injury (SCI) suffer debilitating chronic neuropathic pain, which is intractable to treatment. A study by the University of Minnesota intended to determine feasibility, as the primary objective, and estimates of efficacy of a remotely delivered Qigong intervention in adults with SCI-related neuropathic pain, as the secondary objective.
They recruited adults with SCI-related neuropathic pain, with SCI >=3 months, with complete or incomplete SCI, and highest neuropathic pain level of >3 on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), using nationwide volunteer sampling. Using a non-randomized controlled trial design, participants practiced Spring Forest Qigong’s “Five Element Qigong Healing Movements” (online video) by combining movement to the best of their ability with kinesthetic imagery, at least 3x/week for 12 weeks. Adherence was automatically tracked through the Spring Forest Qigong website. Outcomes of neuropathic pain intensity (NPRS) were assessed weekly, and SCI-related symptoms were assessed at baseline, 6, and 12 weeks of Qigong practice and at 6-week and 1-year follow-ups.
They recruited 23 adults with chronic SCI (7/2021-2/2023). In total, 18 participants started the study and completed all study components, including the 6-week follow-up. Twelve participants completed the 1-year follow-up assessment. Feasibility was demonstrated through participants’ willingness to participate, adherence, and acceptability of the study. The ages of the 18 participants ranged from 40 to 72, and they were 4 to 26 years post-SCI with the highest baseline neuropathic pain, which was reduced after 12 weeks of Qigong practice. This pain relief remained at 6-week and 1-year follow-ups.
Participants reported reduced spasm frequency and severity, reduced interference of neuropathic pain on mood, sleep, daily activities, greater ability to perform functional activities, and improved mood after Qigong.
As reported by Frontiers in physiology in August 2023, remote Spring Forest Qigong’s “Five Element Qigong Healing Movements” practice is feasible in adults with SCI-related neuropathic pain, with promising prolonged results of neuropathic pain relief and improvement in SCI-related symptoms after Qigong practice.
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