Expectations of Qigong and Exercise Therapy in Patients With Long-term Neck Pain: An Analysis of a Prospective Randomized Study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to study differences in treatment expectations after participating in qigong and exercise therapy among participants with long-term neck pain, the impact of total group expectations on treatment outcomes, and the relationship between these treatment expectations and pain and disability. METHOD: Reliable questionnaires were used. Differences between qigong and exercise was studied in a randomized, controlled, multicenter trial (n = 122). The impact of total group expectations on treatment outcomes and the association between these treatment expectations and pain and disability were studied with nonparametric statistical analysis and Spearman's correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The exercise group had higher expectations than the qigong group before the intervention on how logical treatment seemed to be and after the intervention on treatment credibility (ie, that the treatment would reduce/eliminate neck pain). The exercise group was also more confident that the treatment could reduce neck pain and significantly increased their expectations of reduced neck pain over the 3-month intervention period. Both treatment groups had high expectations of the assigned treatment. Those with high expectations had better treatment outcomes in pain and disability. The relationship between treatment expectations and credibility, pain, and disability was weak. CONCLUSIONS: The current findings support the role of assessment of expectation/credibility for positive treatment results. An understanding of each patient's treatment expectations may be helpful in guiding patients with respect to appropriate interventions and as an indication of risk of poor outcome.

Qigong and exercise therapy in patients with long-term neck pain: a prospective randomized trial.

STUDY DESIGN: A randomized, controlled, multicenter trial: 1-year follow-up. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of qigong and exercise therapy in subjects with long-term nonspecific neck pain. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The evidence for the benefit of treatment programs focusing on persons with long-term, nonspecific neck pain is conflicting. Several studies have shown support for exercise therapy, but the efficacy of qigong has not been scientifically evaluated. METHODS: A total of 122 patients were randomly assigned to receive either qigong (n = 60) or exercise therapy (n = 62). Most of them were women (70%), and the mean age was 44 years. A maximum of 12 treatments were given over a period of 3 months. Neck pain frequency and intensity, neck disability (NDI), grip strength, and cervical range of motion were recorded before and immediately after, at 6 months, and at 12 months after the treatment period. Changes in outcome variables were analyzed and dichotomized as improved or unchanged/deteriorated. RESULTS: Clinical and demographic characteristics were similar among groups at baseline. No differences were found between the 2 interventions: qigong and exercise therapy. Both groups significantly improved immediately after treatment and this was maintained at the 6- and 12-month follow-ups in 5 of 8 outcome variables: average neck pain in the most recent week, current neck pain (with exception for immediately after treatment period), neck pain diary, NDI, and cervical range of motion in rotation. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that treatments including supervised qigong or exercise therapy resulting in reduced pain and disability can be recommended for persons with long-term nonspecific neck pain.