by New York Medical College

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

An online program of t’ai chi, qigong and meditation has been shown to be helpful in reducing lower back pain and related discomforts, potentially offering a safe and low-cost treatment option to the hundreds of millions of people suffering from low back pain.

In a randomized clinical study, jointly conducted by The Center for Taiji & Qigong Studies, Och Spine at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, Weill Cornell Medicine and New York Medical College, researchers found that patients who attended online classes for twelve weeks reported less pain, easier movement and better sleep after participating in the program.

The findings are published today in the North American Spine Society Journal.

“It’s well-established that t’ai chi and qigong help to reduce pain and to improve strength, balance, immune function, sleep and mood,” said t’ai chi grandmaster Yang Yang, Ph.D., founder and director of the Center for Taiji and Qigong Studies, in New York. “Our new research shows how modern tools—virtual classes streamed on Zoom—are an effective way to deliver these ancient practices and to realize their health benefits.”

Participants in the study, all of whom suffered from lower back pain, participated in twice-weekly, hour-long classes via Zoom that focused on meditation practices and on gentle movements aimed at increasing relaxation, spinal flexibility, posture, balance and core strength. Participants also learned about acupressure points for back, neck, sciatica, energy and sleep. All were instructed to adapt the curriculum to their individual needs and to continue practicing at home on their own time, at their own pace.

Throughout the program and afterwards, researchers assessed participants on such factors as pain-related disability, pain intensity, and sleep quality. The researchers found that, compared to a control group, program participants experienced statistically significant improvement on all counts. Improvements persisted at least one month after treatment concluded.

“The mind-body connection is essential for managing back pain, as stress, anxiety, and negative emotions can exacerbate physical discomfort. Practices like t’ai chi, qi gong, meditation, and relaxation techniques can help to reduce muscle tension and improve the body’s response to pain, creating a holistic approach to healing and pain relief,” said Jaspal Ricky Singh, M.D., vice chair of strategy and clinical operations and associate professor of clinical rehabilitation medicine in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, and director of Interventional Spine at Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center.

“This study highlights the novel approach of integrating both stillness and movement equally, offering a true mind-body practice that not only improves back pain but also has the potential to reduce reliance on pain medications, including opioids, which is a critical public health issue,” said principal investigator Kenneth A. Knapp, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Public Health, School of Health Sciences and Practice, New York Medical College in Valhalla, NY.

“Back pain is one of the most frequent reasons for disability and suffering in our population. As a spine surgeon, it has always been my goal to limit the use of spinal surgery to those patients who will really benefit from a surgical intervention. This study helps us understand which patients do well with nonoperative treatment,” said senior investigator Roger Härtl, M.D., director of Neurosurgery Spine and the Hansen-MacDonald Professor of Neurological Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine, and co-director of Och Spine, director, neurosurgery spine at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center.

“The participants receiving the virtually delivered mind-body intervention experienced greater pain reduction and enhanced QOL than the control group across all time points, reinforcing the value of mind-body practices in chronic pain management,” said Mohamad Bydon, M.D., Neuro-Informatics Laboratory, Department of Neurological Surgery, Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.

More information: Yang Yang et al, A Tai chi and qigong mind-body program for low back pain: A virtually delivered randomized control trial, North American Spine Society Journal (NASSJ) (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.xnsj.2024.100557

Provided by New York Medical College

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