2024 American Academy of Neurology Abstract Website

Objective:

To evaluate the feasibility of utilizing Qigong to improve pain in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy.

Background:

Diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) is the most common cause of neuropathy worldwide. Symptoms of pain and paresthesias markedly impair quality of life (QOL) and result in sleep disturbances, disability and costly health care utilization. Pharmacologic therapies provide little if any relief. In small studies, Qigong, a mind-body practice that integrates body awareness, focused attention and balance training, has shown to be helpful in the treatment of chronic pain. We studied the feasibility of utilizing Qigong to improve pain and QOL in patients with painful DPN.

Design/Methods:

This was a non-randomized pilot study that included 10 patients with DPN. Subjects completed 9 weekly online group sessions of Qigong with a trained instructor. Adherence rates, acceptability of the intervention and technical issues were recorded as feasibility outcomes. Secondary outcomes of pain and QOL were measured by the Visual Analogue Scale, Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System Neuropathic Pain Quality scale (PROMIS-PQ-Neuro) and Neuropathy-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (Neuro-QoL).

Results:

Of 10 patients who entered the study, 9 (5 women, 4 men) completed the active intervention. The practice was well-tolerated with no adverse effects and was rated favorably by participants. Although the study was not powered for efficacy, a trend toward improved pain and QOL was observed across secondary outcome measures pre- and post-treatment.

Conclusions:

Qigong is a feasible practice for patients with painful DPN with high adherence rates and acceptability ratings. While the underlying pathophysiology of meditation-related pain modulation is unknown, functional changes in neural structures involved with cognitive processing of pain may play a role.