In 2012, a pilot study has shed light on the potential benefits of Qigong exercise for patients suffering from fibromyalgia (FM), a condition characterized by widespread chronic pain and other debilitating symptoms. Conducted by researchers including Wen Liu, Laura Zahner, Molly Cornell, Tung Le, Jessica Ratner, Yunxia Wang, Mamatha Pasnoor, Mazen Dimachkie, and Richard Barohn, the study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a home-based Qigong program for managing FM symptoms.

In this study, 14 participants were randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group engaged in a six-week Qigong exercise regimen that incorporated meditation, deep breathing, and synchronized rhythmic body movements. Meanwhile, the control group performed a sham Qigong exercise with the same movements over the same period. To assess the impact of these interventions, both groups were evaluated at the start and end of the study using several clinical tools: the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire, the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire.

The findings were notable. The experimental group showed significant reductions (p < .0125) in scores across all four assessment tools, while the control group did not experience comparable improvements. Specifically, the intervention group saw percentage reductions of 44.2% in pain, 24.8% in fatigue, 37.3% in sleep disturbance, and 44.3% in the overall impact of fibromyalgia. In contrast, the control group showed modest changes of 10.1%, 6.3%, 9.9%, and 11.8%, respectively.

These results suggest that Qigong exercise may serve as a viable self-management strategy for alleviating FM symptoms. The study highlights the potential importance of regular, daily practice and the specific type of Qigong exercise used. However, the researchers emphasize the need for further investigation with a larger sample size to confirm these findings and better understand the mechanisms at play.

This pilot study represents a hopeful step towards improving quality of life for those affected by fibromyalgia through accessible, non-pharmacological interventions like Qigong.

Reference: Liu, W., Zahner, L., Cornell, M., Le, T., Ratner, J., Wang, Y., & Barohn, R. (2012). Benefit of Qigong exercise in patients with fibromyalgia: a pilot study. International Journal of Neuroscience, 122(11), 657-664.