NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Combining chiropractic care and Tai Chi to help older adults with neck pain

Official title: Combined Chiropractic Care and Tai Chi for Chronic Non-Specific Neck Pain

Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11045394 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at how well combining chiropractic care with Tai Chi can help older adults with chronic neck pain feel better and improve their overall well-being, while also gathering feedback from participants about their experiences.

More Neck Pain research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionBrigham and Women's Hospital
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boston, United States)
Project startSeptember 12, 2022
Project endNovember 30, 2025
Funding year2024
Award (this year)$179,000
NIH project number3R34AT011368-03S1
Project IDNIH-11045394 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are older adults experiencing chronic non-specific neck pain.

Less likely to help

Patients with acute neck pain or those who do not respond to chiropractic care or Tai Chi may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research investigates the effectiveness of combining chiropractic care with Tai Chi to treat chronic non-specific neck pain in older adults. The study aims to evaluate the feasibility of this approach and gather participant experiences while optimizing data collection methods. Patients will be involved in a clinical trial that assesses how these complementary therapies can alleviate their neck pain and improve their overall well-being. The research also provides training for a clinician-researcher to enhance their skills in conducting clinical trials.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide older adults with effective, non-invasive treatment options for chronic neck pain.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results for similar approaches combining complementary therapies for pain management, indicating potential for success in this study.

Where this research is happening

  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Boston, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Wayne, Peter Michael — Brigham and Women's Hospital
  • Study coordinator: Wayne, Peter Michael

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

  • Identifying new targets to treat chronic neck pain from the C1-2 joint

    Researchers are studying tissue from people with neck pain to find molecular clues that could lead to better, non-opioid treatments.

    NIH research University of Washington · Seattle, United States · NIH-11363674

  • New molecular targets for chronic C1–C2 (atlanto‑axial) neck pain

    Using tissue removed during neck surgery to look for molecular signals that could lead to better treatments for people with chronic neck pain from the atlanto‑axial joint.

    NIH research University of Washington · Seattle, United States · NIH-11173593

  • New epidural leads to relieve chronic arm and neck pain

    This study is testing a new, softer type of epidural stimulation device to help people with chronic arm and neck pain feel better by making it easier to implant and more effective for treating their pain.

    NIH research Backstop Neural, INC. · Dallas, United States · NIH-11006736

  • A smart patch for managing neck pain

    This study is testing a new wireless patch with tiny needles that can help relieve neck pain without the side effects of pills, making it a friendly option for people looking for better pain management.

    NIH research University of Virginia · Charlottesville, United States · NIH-10952422

  • Finding new treatment targets for chronic neck pain using RNA sequencing.

    This study is looking at the causes of chronic neck pain, especially related to arthritis in a specific joint, by analyzing tissue samples from patients having surgery, to find out what makes the pain different from those with short-term pain, which could help in developing better treatments.

    NIH research University of Washington · Seattle, United States · NIH-10912656

  • Combining chiropractic care and Tai Chi to help with chronic neck pain

    This study is looking at how well chiropractic care and Tai Chi work together to help people with chronic neck pain feel better and improve their quality of life.

    NIH research Brigham and Women's Hospital · Boston, United States · NIH-10866430

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.