Extension Trial of Qigong for Fibromyalgia: A Quantitative and Qualitative Study
Table 4
Qualitative comments of the remaining subjects who completed the extension trial. Baseline comments relate to experiences following level 1 CFQ. Comments retain original wording and content but are edited to remove identifying and extraneous information. Original trial number, age, and duration of fibromyalgia (FM) are indicated for each subject (mo = month).
Subject
Baseline comments
Comments following qigong practice
1 (019) Age: 59 FM: 14 years
Qigong helped me enormously at first, physically and emotionally. Have not practiced faithfully; do about 15 mins/day. Most negative health changes are due to arthritic changes, degenerative discs, pinched nerve in neck, bad shoulder, foot, and hand.
Week 8: for the first 2 weeks felt worse, or not improved; had a lot of movements during meditation which I found exhausting, woke stiff and sore. By week 3/4 was feeling a bit more energetic and woke feeling better, but tired. By week 6, was feeling good upon waking. By week 7/8, am feeling good most of the day. Back gets sore by late afternoon. Burning and stiffness due to fibromyalgia are mostly gone. Have more energy, less pain. Month 4–6: had to stop sitting meditation as it caused lower back pain, so do lying meditation; very relaxing, fall asleep within minutes. Sleep more soundly and have more energy. Less fibromyalgia pain (still have arthritis aches—spine and hand) (4 mo). Am more relaxed, fall asleep more easily. Note: reports practicing 5, then 2-3 hrs per week
2 (029) Age: 65 FM: 9 years
Weight loss, tightening of core and leg muscles, walk further. Blood pressure decreased 154 to 110, off meds for over a year. Overall healthier. Immune system has improved.
Week 8: there haven’t been many changes. Stopped doing meditation as found it hurtful (physically) and depressing (mentally). Month 4–6: bad fall and having trouble healing. Stopped Qigong due to injury. Note: reports practicing 4, then 0–2 hrs per week
3 (042) Age: 44 FM: 12 years
Because of disability, live in poverty with limited resources. Stressful housing situations have created health issues. CFQ has gotten me through crises. When not in crisis, very noticeable positive effects.
Week 8: anxiety up and down. Level 2 caused temporary overwhelming emotional responses; however, they passed. Less muscle tension and tightness. Month 4–6: negative changes in health since learning CFQ—central nervous retinopathy, psoriasis, and high cholesterol. Positive changes—less pain, headaches, stiffness, aches, increased mobility, and sleep. Note: reports practicing 5, then 3-4 hrs per week
4 (043) Age: 46 FM: 1 year
Understand my condition more and therefore am more in control.
Week 8: have learned to control anxiety, am more in control and relaxed. Pain seems to improve after practicing Qigong; it helps me cope with pain. Month 4–6: no changes (4 mo). Have not practiced Qigong (6 mo). Note: reports practicing 3, then 0-1 hr per week
5 (044) Age: 55 FM: 2 years
[Have] osteoarthritis of back and knees and generalized over body, in both thumbs, ankle, elbows; have high blood pressure.
Week 8: feel relaxed; meditation makes me calm and peaceful. Month 4–6: osteoarthritis in left knee and spinal stenosis have worsened [with] certain parts of Qigong practice (4 mo). Meditation gives me peace of mind (6 mo). Note: reports practicing 3.5, then 1–4 hrs per week
6 (048) Age: 61 FM: 17 years
Qigong has been of great benefit. Because of Muscular Dystrophy, (MD), am limited in moves and practice. Even though am getting weaker due to MD, Qigong has definitely helped with stiffness and stamina.
Week 8: am definitely more flexible and can raise my arms up further and for a longer period of time. The meditation aspect has presented challenges. Month 4–6: even though have not been physically able to practice more than approximately 60 mins/day, it has been of some benefit to me. Hands and feet are warmer, feel calmer. Have recently experienced further progression of MD which has limited me (4 mo). Joints are definitely not as stiff when practicing Qigong (6 mo). Note: reports practicing 5, then 1.5–3 hrs per week
Week 8: pain level has increased since starting meditation. Am mostly relaxed during the lying down meditation; pain dissipates during this time. Overall pain has increased, interfering with sleep. Stiffness increased also. Month 4–6: pain levels went up while practicing Level 2. Reduced the amount of time in the last 3 weeks to get a break. Have started the daily routine again to see if there is any improvement (4 mo) Stopped doing meditation and pain levels went down. Still practicing [movements] but not as much as previously. Removed wheat from diet, and stiffness, pain levels and swelling reduced. Note: reports practicing 6, then 4-5 hrs per week
8 (091) Age: 67 FM: 22 years
Felt better, less pain, more sleep.
Week 8: more relaxed, and joints feel better. Pain seems to be better most of the time. Qigong has helped me cope better. Month 4–6: helped me become more active, given me strength to do more [short walks, biking for first time in years]. Could do more, but my arthritic foot stops me. Qigong has not seemed to help this area. Note: reports practicing 3, then 2–7 hrs per week
