Qigong and Exercise for Chronic Low Back Pain

This study is looking at how Qigong exercise affects the brain and pain in people with ongoing (chronic) low back pain. Participants will either learn Qigong exercises or P.Volve exercises, both through online videos. Researchers want to see if Qigong can reduce pain and improve body awareness more than P.Volve exercises. You might be able to join if you are an adult between 18 and 70 years old with chronic low back pain, can speak English, and don't have certain nerve problems or cognitive issues. The study aims to enroll 60 people, but its current status is unclear.

Study design
This interventional study plans to enroll 60 participants. It compares Qigong exercise to P.Volve exercises.
What's involved
Participants will follow an introductory class for their assigned exercise (Qigong: 6 hours; P.Volve: 2.5 hours) and then practice at home 3 times a week for 40 minutes, for 12 weeks.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Pain and body awareness will be measured at baseline and again at 15 weeks.

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NCT04164225

Feasibility of Identifying Brain Mechanisms of Qigong and Behavioral Outcomes After Qigong Practice in People With Chronic Low Back Pain

Recruiting
NAAges 18–70InterventionalBasic science
University of Minnesota
~60 participants
Updated 2025-10-09 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Qigong ExerciseP.Volve Exercises

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Change in Pain Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)
Measured over baseline, 15 weeks
+5 more outcomes measured
Low Back Pain
1 sites across 1 states
Minnesota1
  • Ann Van de Winckel, PhD,MSPT,PT · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Minnesota

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Eligibility criteria

Exclusion

Those with cognitive problems
Those unable to speak or understand instructions
Those who have nerve problems, fractures, or infections
Those who do not speak English
Those with severe deficit in motor imagery or in vision (both are used in MRI tasks)
  • Change in Pain Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)baseline, 15 weeks

    The Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) is a unidimensional measure of pain intensity in adults. Pain is rated on a scale of 0-10, with higher scores indicating greater pain intensity.

  • Change in Revised Body Awareness Rating Questionnaire (BARQ)baseline, 15 weeks

    The Body Awareness Rating Questionnaire (BARQ) is a self-report questionnaire designed to capture how individuals with long-lasting musculoskeletal pain reflect on their own body awareness. This questionnaire contains 12 items rated on a scale from 0 (completely disagree) to 3 (completely agree). The total score is a sum of all items. Lower scores indicate greater body awareness.

  • Change in Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS)baseline, 15 weeks

    The MAAS is a 15-item scale designed to assess a core characteristic of mindfulness. Items are rated on a scale from 1 (almost always) to 6 (almost never). The total score is an unweighted mean of the 15 item scores.

  • Change in Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ)baseline, 15 weeks

    The FFMQ is a 39-item scale measuring five facets of mindfulness: observing (items 1, 6, 11, 15, 20, 26, 31, and 36), describing (items 2, 7, 12R, 16R, 22R, 27, 32, and 37), acting with awareness (items 5R, 8R, 13R, 18R, 23R, 28R, 34R, 38R), non-judging of inner experience (items 3R, 10R, 14R, 17R, 25R, 30R, 35R, 39R), and non-reactivity to inner experience (items 4, 9, 19, 21, 24, 33). Items are rated on a scale from 1 (never or very rarely true) to 5 (very often or always true). Items marked with "R" are scored in reverse. Sub scale and total scale scores can be calculated by sum or unweighted mean. Higher scores indicate higher levels of mindfulness.

  • Change in Proprioceptionbaseline, 15 weeks

    Lower-limb proprioception will be measured by a lower limb device that produces assessment of proprioceptive acuity and sensitivity of the ankle and/or knee joint in the sagittal plane. Output is measured in degrees of joint motion of the ankle and knee.

  • Change in Postural Awareness Scale (PAS)baseline, 15 weeks

    The PAS is a 12-item scale, which was developed in order to measure self-reported awareness of body posture in patients with chronic pain and to evaluate potential changes in postural awareness induced by a multimodal mind-body training program. Item responses range from 1 (not at all true about me) to 7 (very true about me). Six items are reversely scored, so that higher score values consistently indicate higher postural awareness. Total scores are a sum of items scores and range from 13 to 91, with higher scores indicating greater postural awareness