Qigong and Fibromyalgia circa 2017
Medicines June 6, 2017 Jana Sawynok, Mary E. Lynch
Qigong, an internal art practice characterized as meditative movement or mind–body therapy, shows consistent benefits in pain, sleep, impact, and physical and mental function for people with fibromyalgia when practiced diligently (30–45 minutes daily for 6–8 weeks), with benefits maintained at 4–6 months. Effect sizes are large across four trials involving 201 subjects. Reports of more extensive practice over 1–3 years or even a decade indicate marked health benefits beyond core fibromyalgia domains, though these involve limited, self-selected subjects. Current treatment guidelines do not consider amount of practice and usually make indeterminate recommendations, but qigong merits further study as a complementary practice.