Published March 31, 2026 | Version v1

Qigong in physical therapy for patients with chronic low back pain: A narrative review

  • 1. Kherson State University, Kherson, Ukraine
  • 2. State Institution "Sytenko Institute of Spine and Joint Pathology of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine", Kharkiv, Ukraine
  • 3. Kharkiv National Medical University, Kharkiv, Ukraine
  • 4. Kharkiv Regional Institute of Public Health Services, Kharkiv, Ukraine

Description

Cite in English in Vancouver style:

Kiliachenkova KYe, Fursenko AО, Morozenko DV, Shevchenko AS, Danylchenko SI. Qigong in physical therapy for patients with chronic low back pain: A narrative review. International Medical Herald. 2026;2(1(5)):17-27. https://doi.org/10.64108/imh.2026.1.5.17 

https://imh.com.ua/index.php/imh/article/view/48 

Archived: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19371336 

Files

2026 art Kiliachenkova et al. Int Med Herald.pdf

Files (848.7 kB)

Name Size Download all
md5:258d487a37c76556bbc8bdae7b579b30
848.7 kB Preview Download

Additional details

References

  • Yu, D., Wu, M., Zhang, J., Song, W., & Zhu, L. (2025). Effect of qigong on pain and disability in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13018-025-05576-8
  • Martinez-Calderon J, de-la-Casa-Almeida M, Matias-Soto J. The Effects of Mind-Body Exercises on Chronic Spinal Pain Outcomes: A Synthesis Based on 72 Meta-Analyses. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Sep 23;19(19):12062. doi: 10.3390/ ijerph191912062
  • Sotiropoulos S, Papandreou M, Mavrogenis A, Tsaroucha A, Georgoudis G. The Effects of Qigong and Tai Chi Exercises on Chronic Low Back Pain in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Cureus. 2025 May 18;17(5):e84342. doi: 10.7759/cureus.84342
  • Wang XQ, Xiong HY, Du SH, Yang QH, Hu L. The effect and mechanism of traditional Chinese exercise for chronic low back pain in middle-aged and elderly patients: A systematic review. Front Aging Neurosci. 2022 Oct 10;14:935925. doi: 10.3389/ fnagi.2022.935925
  • Phattharasupharerk, S., Purepong, N., Eksakulkla, S., & Siriphorn, A. (2019). Effects of Qigong practice in office workers with chronic non-specific low back pain: A randomized control trial. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 23(2), 375–381. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2018.02.004
  • Blödt, S., Pach, D., Kaster, T., Lüdtke, R., Icke, K., Reisshauer, A., & Witt, C. M. (2014). Qigong versus exercise therapy for chronic low back pain in adults - A randomized controlled non-inferiority trial. European Journal of Pain, 19(1), 123–131. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.529
  • Vlaeyen, J. W. S., & Linton, S. J. (2000). Fear-avoidance and its consequences in chronic musculoskeletal pain: A state of the art. Pain, 85(3), 317–332. https:// doi.org/10.1016/s0304-3959(99)00242-0
  • Woolf CJ. Central sensitization: implications for the diagnosis and treatment of pain. Pain. 2011 Mar;152(3 Suppl):S2-S15. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2010.09.030
  • Teodorczyk-Injeyan, J. A., McGregor, M., Triano, J. J., & Injeyan, S. H. (2018). Elevated production of nociceptive CC chemokines and se-selectin in patients with low back pain and the effects of spinal manipulation. The Clinical Journal of Pain, 34(1), 68– 75. https://doi.org/10.1097/ajp.0000000000000507
  • Linton, S. J., & Shaw, W. S. (2011). Impact of psychological factors in the experience of pain. Physical Therapy, 91(5), 700–711. https://doi.org/10.2522/ ptj.20100330
  • Moseley, G. L. (2003). A pain neuromatrix approach to patients with chronic pain. Manual Therapy, 8(3), 130–140. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1356-689x(03)00051-1
  • Qaseem A, Wilt TJ, McLean RM, Forciea MA; Clinical Guidelines Committee of the American College of Physicians; Denberg TD, Barry MJ, Boyd C, Chow RD, Fitterman N, Harris RP, et al. Noninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med. 2017;166(7):514-530. doi: 10.7326/M16-2367
  • Jahnke, R., Larkey, L., Rogers, C., Etnier, J., & Lin, F. (2010). A comprehensive review of health benefits of qigong and tai chi. American Journal of Health Promotion, 24(6), e1-e25. https://doi.org/10.4278/ ajhp.081013-lit-248
  • Wayne, P. M., & Kaptchuk, T. J. (2008). Challenges inherent to t'ai chi research: Part i—t'ai chi as a complex multicomponent intervention. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 14(1), 95–102. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2007.7170a
  • Li, J. X. (2001b). Tai chi: Physiological characteristics and beneficial effects on health. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 35(3), 148–156. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.35.3.148
  • Wang C, Schmid CH, Hibberd PL, Kalish R, Roubenoff R, Rones R, et al. Tai Chi is effective in treating knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial. Arthritis Rheum. 2009 Nov 15;61(11):1545-53. doi: 10.1002/art.24832
  • Marks, R. (2019). Qigong and musculoskeletal pain. Current Rheumatology Reports, 21(11). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11926-019-0861-6
  • Van de Winckel, A., Carpentier, S., Deng, W., Zhang, L., Battaglino, R., & Morse, L. (2023). Using remotely delivered Spring Forest Qigong™ to reduce neuropathic pain in adults with spinal cord injury: Protocol of a quasi-experimental feasibility clinical trial. Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-023-01374-3
  • Retraction of 'A study of a B2C supporting interface design system for the elderly. human factors and ergonomics in manufacturing & service industries, 22, 528-540. doi: 10:1002/hfm.20297'. (2016). Human Factors and Ergonomics in Manufacturing & Service Industries, 26(2), 288. https://doi.org/10.1002/ hfm.20654
  • Wen YR, Shi J, Wang YF, Lin YY, Hu ZY, Lin YT, et al. Are Mind-Body Exercise Beneficial for Treating Pain, Function, and Quality of Life in Middle-Aged and Old People With Chronic Pain? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Aging Neurosci. 2022 Jun 21;14:921069. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.921069.
  • Ovdii MO, Korshak VМ. Chronic low back pain, a review of the problem from the perspective of the biopsychosocial model: an analytical review of the scientific literature. Ukraine. Nation's Health. 2025;(1):134-138. [Ukrainian]. doi: 10.32782/2077-6594/2025.1/23
  • Mescouto K, Olson RE, Hodges PW, Setchell J. A critical review of the biopsychosocial model of low back pain care: time for a new approach? Disabil Rehabil. 2022 Jun;44(13):3270-3284. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2020.1851783
  • Taheri N, Becker L, Fleig L, Kolodziejczak K, Cordes L, Hoehl BU, et al. Fear-avoidance beliefs are associated with changes of back shape and function. Pain Rep. 2025 Mar 21;10(2):e1249. doi: 10.1097/PR9.0000000000001249. Erratum in: Pain Rep. 2025 May 15;10(3):e1290. doi: 10.1097/ PR9.0000000000001290
  • Kong LJ, Lauche R, Klose P, Bu JH, Yang XC, Guo CQ, et al. Tai Chi for Chronic Pain Conditions: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Sci Rep. 2016 Apr 29;6:25325. doi: 10.1038/srep25325
  • Sotiropoulos S, Plavoukou T, Georgoudis G. Qigong Versus Usual Exercise in the Treatment of Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain as an Add-On to a Standardized Physiotherapy Program. Cureus. 2025 Mar 31;17(3):e81492. doi: 10.7759/cureus.81492
  • Hartvigsen J, Hancock MJ, Kongsted A, Louw Q, Ferreira ML, Genevay S, et al.; Lancet Low Back Pain Series Working Group. What low back pain is and why we need to pay attention. Lancet. 2018 Jun 9;391(10137):2356-2367. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30480-X
  • Lall MP, Restrepo E. The Biopsychosocial Model of Low Back Pain and Patient-Centered Outcomes Following Lumbar Fusion. Orthop Nurs. 2017 May/Jun;36(3):213-221. doi: 10.1097/ NOR.0000000000000350
  • Geneen LJ, Moore RA, Clarke C, Martin D, Colvin LA, Smith BH. Physical activity and exercise for chronic pain in adults: an overview of Cochrane Reviews. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 Apr 24;4(4):CD011279. doi: 10.1002/14651858. CD011279.pub3
  • Foster NE, Anema JR, Cherkin D, Chou R, Cohen SP, Gross DP, et al.; Lancet Low Back Pain Series Working Group. Prevention and treatment of low back pain: evidence, challenges, and promising directions. Lancet. 2018 Jun 9;391(10137):2368-2383. doi: 10.1016/ S0140-6736(18)30489-6
  • Vlaeyen JWS, Linton SJ. Fear-avoidance model of chronic musculoskeletal pain: 12 years on. Pain. 2012 Jun;153(6):1144-1147. doi: 10.1016/j. pain.2011.12.009
  • Chronic pain (primary and secondary) in over 16s: assessment of all chronic pain and management of chronic primary pain. London: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE); 2021 Apr 7. PMID: 33939353.
  • Bai Z, Guan Z, Fan Y, Liu C, Yang K, Ma B, et al. The Effects of Qigong for Adults with Chronic Pain: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Am J Chin Med. 2015;43(8):1525-39. doi: 10.1142/ S0192415X15500871