64 Participants Needed

Qigong for Spinal Cord Injury

AV
AV
Overseen ByAnn Van de Winckel
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: University of Minnesota
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests if Qigong, a practice involving gentle movements and focused breathing, can reduce chronic pain in adults with spinal cord injuries by improving their body awareness and correcting brain function related to pain. Qigong is a therapeutic Chinese practice that has been used for thousands of years to optimize and restore energy (Qi) to the body, mind, and spirit.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Qigong for spinal cord injury?

Research suggests that Spring Forest Qigong, a type of Qigong, may help reduce neuropathic pain in people with spinal cord injuries by improving body awareness. This is important because neuropathic pain is often difficult to treat with traditional methods.12345

Is Qigong generally safe for humans?

Qigong is generally considered safe, but the understanding of its potential side effects is not complete. A review of existing studies aims to provide more comprehensive information on any adverse events associated with Qigong and related therapies.678910

How does the Qigong treatment for spinal cord injury differ from other treatments?

Qigong is unique because it is a non-invasive, movement-based therapy that can be practiced remotely, focusing on improving body awareness to reduce neuropathic pain, unlike many standard treatments that may involve medications or surgeries.34111213

Research Team

Ann Van de Winckel | Medical School

Ann Van de Winckel, PhD, MS, PT

Principal Investigator

University of Minnesota

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for adults with spinal cord injury who experience neuropathic pain above a certain level. They must be medically stable, have had the injury for at least 3 months, and not depend on a ventilator. People can't join if they're pregnant, planning to become pregnant, have cognitive impairments that prevent following directions, seizures that aren't controlled, or can't undergo MRI scans.

Inclusion Criteria

I have had a spinal cord injury for at least 3 months.
I have stable paraplegia or tetraplegia.
My spinal cord injury pain is more than 3 on a scale of 0-10.

Exclusion Criteria

I do not have seizures, cognitive issues, or communication disabilities that prevent me from following instructions.
You cannot have an MRI if you have certain metal implants in your body.
If you can't feel movements in your index finger, you won't do the robot task, but you will do all the other scans in the MRI machine.
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Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Observation

Participants undergo a 12-week observation period to assess baseline measures

12 weeks
Regular virtual check-ins

Qigong Intervention

Participants receive Qigong practice for 12 weeks to assess its impact on neuropathic pain and body awareness

12 weeks
Weekly virtual sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after the Qigong intervention

6 weeks
2 visits (virtual)

Treatment Details

Interventions

  • Qigong
Trial OverviewThe CREATION trial is testing Qigong—a mind-body practice involving gentle movements and focused breathing—as a potential treatment to reduce neuropathic pain in individuals with spinal cord injuries. The study includes an optional substudy where all participants will practice Qigong for 12 weeks followed by a 6-week follow-up.
Participant Groups
2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Qigong FirstExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Participants in this group will complete the 12-week Qigong intervention first and then the 12-week observation period.
Group II: Observation FirstExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Participants in this group will complete the 12-week observation period first and then the 12-week Qigong intervention.

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Minnesota

Lead Sponsor

Trials
1,459
Recruited
1,623,000+

Findings from Research

A remote Qigong intervention was found to be feasible and effective in reducing neuropathic pain in adults with spinal cord injury, with pain levels decreasing from an average of 7.94 to 4.17 on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale after 12 weeks of practice.
Participants also reported significant improvements in related symptoms, including reduced spasm frequency and severity, better mood, and enhanced ability to perform daily activities, indicating a holistic benefit from the Qigong practice.
Using remotely delivered Spring Forest Qigong™ to reduce neuropathic pain in adults with spinal cord injury: A non-randomized controlled trial.Van de Winckel, A., Carpentier, ST., Deng, W., et al.[2023]
In a study of 51 patients with spinal cord injury, those receiving early comprehensive therapy of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) showed significant improvements in motor function and daily living activities after 4 weeks of treatment.
While TCM therapy improved motor scores and the Barthel Index, there was no significant difference in overall ASIA grading compared to the control group receiving Western Medicine, suggesting that TCM may enhance specific motor functions but not overall injury classification.
Traditional Chinese Medicine comprehensive therapy for the improvement of motor function in spinal cord injury patients.Wang, Y., Zhang, L., Pan, G., et al.[2019]
This pilot clinical trial aims to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of Spring Forest Qigong™ in reducing neuropathic pain among adults with spinal cord injury (SCI), with participants practicing at home for 12 weeks using guided video sessions.
The study will assess changes in neuropathic pain and related factors such as mood and body awareness, with data collected at multiple time points to determine the intervention's impact and long-term benefits.
Using remotely delivered Spring Forest Qigong™ to reduce neuropathic pain in adults with spinal cord injury: protocol of a quasi-experimental feasibility clinical trial.Van de Winckel, A., Carpentier, S., Deng, W., et al.[2023]

References

Using remotely delivered Spring Forest Qigong™ to reduce neuropathic pain in adults with spinal cord injury: A non-randomized controlled trial. [2023]
Traditional Chinese Medicine comprehensive therapy for the improvement of motor function in spinal cord injury patients. [2019]
Using remotely delivered Spring Forest Qigong™ to reduce neuropathic pain in adults with spinal cord injury: protocol of a quasi-experimental feasibility clinical trial. [2023]
Buyang Huanwu decoction improves neural recovery after spinal cord injury in rats through the mTOR signaling pathway and autophagy. [2023]
Acupuncture for spinal cord injury survivors in Chinese literature: a systematic review. [2022]
The Safety of Baduanjin Exercise: A Systematic Review. [2022]
Effects of Health Qigong in Improving the Cervical and Lumbar Disc Disease and Mental Health Status of Sedentary Young and Middle-Aged Faculties. [2022]
Safety of Qigong: Protocol for an overview of systematic reviews. [2022]
Effect of Qigong exercise on non-motor function and life quality in stroke patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. [2023]
10.United Statespubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
What do we really know about the safety of tai chi?: A systematic review of adverse event reports in randomized trials. [2022]
Feasibility of using remotely delivered Spring Forest Qigong to reduce neuropathic pain in adults with spinal cord injury: a pilot study. [2023]
[Study on acupuncture and moxibustion for treatment of spinal cord injury at the rehabilitation stage]. [2007]
13.Korea (South)pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Scalp Acupuncture for the Treatment of Motor Function in Acute Spinal Cord Injury: A Case Report. [2018]