QIGONG IN PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN: A NARRATIVE REVIEW

Анотація

Abstract. The purpose of this study was to summarize current scientific evidence on the effects of Qigong practice on the effectiveness of physical rehabilitation in patients with chronic low back pain, to outline potential mechanisms of action, and to identify directions for future research.

Materials and Methods. A narrative review of scientific publications addressing the use of Qigong, Tai Chi, and other mind-body interventions in the rehabilitation of patients with chronic low back pain was conducted.

Results. The analysis of contemporary scientific literature demonstrates that Qigong practice may exert a multifaceted positive influence on patients with chronic non-specific low back pain. Across randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews, Qigong-based interventions were associated with improvements in functional capacity, reduction of disability scores, and enhancement of overall quality of life. Several studies reported clinically meaningful changes in functional indices, such as mobility and activity tolerance, particularly in programs lasting eight weeks or longer.

In addition to physical outcomes, Qigong practice showed favorable effects on psycho-emotional parameters. Reductions in anxiety, fear of movement (kinesiophobia), and pain catastrophizing were consistently observed, suggesting an important role of mind-body integration in addressing psychosocial contributors to chronic pain. These effects appear to be mediated through improved autonomic nervous system regulation, increased parasympathetic activity, and enhanced body awareness.

Mechanistically, Qigong may contribute to normalization of muscle tone, activation of deep stabilizing muscles, and gradual restoration of spinal mobility through slow, controlled movements combined with rhythmic breathing. Moreover, several studies suggest a modulatory effect on pain perception, potentially related to reduced central sensitization and activation of endogenous pain inhibitory pathways.

The most pronounced benefits were observed when Qigong was incorporated as an adjunct to conventional rehabilitation strategies, including therapeutic exercise and stabilization training, rather than used as a stand-alone intervention. However, despite generally positive trends, the available evidence is limited by heterogeneity in intervention protocols, outcome measures, and sample sizes, underscoring the need for further high-quality, large-scale randomized controlled trials.

Conclusions. Conclusions. The analysis of current scientific evidence indicates that Qigong can be considered a safe and clinically reasonable adjunct to comprehensive physical therapy for patients with chronic low back pain, particularly within a multidisciplinary rehabilitation approach.

Available systematic reviews and meta-analyses demonstrate positive effects of Qigong on functional outcomes, pain intensity, and psycho-emotional status, with the most stable results observed when Qigong is combined with therapeutic exercise, stabilization training, and other physiotherapy modalities.

The potential effectiveness of Qigong in rehabilitation is consistent with the biopsychosocial model of pain, as the practice combines gentle movement components, body awareness training, and psycho-emotional regulation, contributing to a multidimensional influence on pain mechanisms.

At the same time, interpretation of the results is limited by the absence of standardized training protocols, methodological heterogeneity across studies, and the insufficient number of large-scale randomized controlled trials with long-term follow-up.