title: Qi therapy as an intervention to reduce chronic pain and to enhance mood in elderly subjects: a pilot study.
abstract: Qi therapy (or external Qi) is an oriental complementary therapy preventing, curing disease and strengthens health and improving the human potentiality through regulation of body. It is increasingly being used to improve the quality of life, but there is little direct evidence of its efficacy. This study assessed the effects of Qi therapy (QT) on reducing pain and enhancing mood states in elderly subjects with chronic pain. We studied 40 elderly participants with chronic pain, who were randomly allocated to receive QT (n=20) or standard care (n=20). The experimental group receives Qi therapy twice a week for 2 weeks (total 4 times), and control group received general care at the same time and the same amount of duration. We measured pain level and Profile of Mood State (POMS) to explore participants' response to Qi therapy. There was a significant reduction in pain (p<0.0001) after QT and an improved positive mood state (p<0.0001). These findings suggest that Qi therapy may have a role in helping the elderly to cope with their pain and mood disturbances.
authors.affiliation: Department of Qi-Medicine, Institute of Biotechnology, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019413:Qi; D011788:Quality of Life; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome