Tai Chi for Chronic Non-specific Neck Pain

Tai Chi for Chronic Non-specific Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

In this study the efficacy of Tai Chi will be tested in comparison to conventional neck exercises and usual care in a randomized controlled trial. Tai Chi and neck exercises will be lead by a trained exercise therapist and Tai Chi instructor, both groups receive 12 weeks of training, once weekly for 60-90 min in a group setting. Pain, Disability, quality of life, wellbeing, stress perception, psychological distress will be used to determine effects.

see above

Inclusion Criteria:

• chronic non specific neck pain (3 months at least)
• 45mm pain intensity on average on the visual analog scale

Exclusion Criteria:

• specific neck pain due to
• inflammatory diseases
• rheumatic diseases
• neurological diseases
• prolapse or protrusion
• oncological disease
• trauma (whiplash)
• congenital deformity of the spine
• severe comorbidity (somatic, psychiatric)
• pregnancy
• participation in other clinical trials
• regular practice of tai chi, qigong, yoga in the past 6 months
• medication with opioids