The Effects Of Regular Qigong-Ba Duan Jin Practice On Promoting The Health In Patients With Chronic Neck Pain

ObjtctiveThe purpose of this study was to observe the long-term efficacy of regular Qigong-Ba Duan Jin practice on promoting the health in patients with chronic neck pain.MethodsThis was a quasi-experimental study, and72patients (36cases in the observation group and36patients in the control group) with chronic neck pain from two communities were divided into two groups in accordance with the community. All the patients received six months of telephone follow-up (once a week), recording the neck pain symptoms and other interventions. Patients in the observed group also have a period of six months of Health Qigong·Ba Duan Jin exercise (exercises for30minutes or more a day). Outcome measures included visual analog scale (VAS), Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire (NPQ), and SF-36quality of life Short Form (SF-36), performed at baseline,3months and6months of the observation period. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS17.0statistical software.Results69patients completed all intervention and follow-up evaluation (34cases in the observation group and35cases in the control group). The observation group achieved significantly greater improvement than the control group in pain intensity (VAS, P<0.05, at the point of3month and6month), Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire (NPQ, P<0.05, at the point of6month)and Reported Health Transition (SF-36HT, P<0.05, at the point of3month and6month). There was no significant difference in improvements in Physical Component Summary and Mental Component Summary of SF-36(P>0.05).ConclusionThis study shows that regular Qigong-Ba Duan Jin practice is effective and safty on relieving pain, improving neck ability and Reported Health Transition in patients with chronic neck pain.