Recruiting

Qigong

Sponsor:

University of Minnesota

Code:

NCT04164225

Conditions

Low Back Pain

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 70

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Qigong Exercise

P.Volve Exercises

Study Details

Brief summary:

The long-term objective of this investigation is to identify how Qigong affects brain function in brain areas relevant to patients with chronic low back pain (cLBP), thereby setting a foundation from which to perform further clinical research.

Conditions

Low Back Pain

Study ID

NCT04164225

Start date

Jan 21, 2020

Status verified date

Oct, 2025

Completion date

Jun 30, 2028

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Jun 30, 2028

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 70

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

\- Adults with chronic low back pain

Exclusion Criteria:

  • 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)

Study Design

Enrollment

60 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Basic Science

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Qigong

Qigong exercises, focused on a mind-body connection

active comparator: P.Volve

P.Volve exercises, focused on just physical movement

Interventions

Qigong Exercise

Participants with chronic low back pain will follow the free "5 elements Qigong healing class" (estimate of 6 hours) at the Spring Forest Qigong center and then practice the "5 elements healing Qigong" at home 3 times a week for 40 minutes with a freely available online video, for 12 weeks. A weekly group session (1 hour) will be conducted at the Brain Body Mind Lab with the principal investigator to address questions and demonstrate movements if needed.

P.Volve Exercises

P.Volve exercise focuses on low impact core strengthening, core stabilization, and stretching. The program is similar in delivery as Qigong (i.e., online videos). An introductory class (estimate of 2.5h) will be given by the P.Volve team, the principal investigator, and a physical therapist who has experience with P.Volve exercises. Participants will access online videos for individual home practice in 40min/session, 3x/week for 12 weeks. Participants will receive a P.ball for some exercises, while other exercises are done with no equipment. Tailored videos will be available for those with cLBP. A weekly group session (1 hour) will be conducted at the Brain Body Mind Lab with the principal investigator to address questions and demonstrate movements if needed.

Primary outcome measure

  • Change in Pain Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) [ Time Frame: baseline, 15 weeks ]
  • Change in Revised Body Awareness Rating Questionnaire (BARQ) [ Time Frame: baseline, 15 weeks ]
  • Change in Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) [ Time Frame: baseline, 15 weeks ]
  • Change in Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) [ Time Frame: baseline, 15 weeks ]
  • Change in Proprioception [ Time Frame: baseline, 15 weeks ]
  • Change in Postural Awareness Scale (PAS) [ Time Frame: baseline, 15 weeks ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Ann Van de Winckel, PhD, MSPT, PT

612-625-1191avdwlab@umn.edu

Locations

Children's Rehabilitation Center, 426 Church Street SE Room 302 - Brain Body Mind Lab Minneapolis, MN 55455

Recruiting

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, 55455

Contacts

Ann Van de Winckel, PhD, MS, PT

612-625-1191avandewi@umn.edu

More Information

Sponsor

University of Minnesota

Last update posted

Oct 9, 2025

Last verified

Oct, 2025

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of Minnesota on 2025-10-09.