Using Qigong to relieve neuropathic pain in adults with spinal cord injuries
CREATION: A Clinical Trial of Qigong for Neuropathic Pain Relief in Adults With Spinal Cord Injury
This study is testing whether practicing Qigong can help adults with spinal cord injuries feel less nerve pain and improve their awareness of their bodies.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 64 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 75 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Minnesota Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Minneapolis, Minnesota) |
| Trial ID | NCT04917107 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This clinical trial investigates the effectiveness of Qigong, a mind-body practice involving gentle movements and breathing techniques, in alleviating neuropathic pain in adults with spinal cord injuries (SCI). The study aims to explore how Qigong may improve body awareness, which is believed to be linked to pain perception and processing in individuals with SCI. Participants will be adults with SCI experiencing significant neuropathic pain, and the trial will assess changes in pain levels and body awareness through various assessments. The findings could provide new insights into alternative therapies for managing chronic pain in this population.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are adults with spinal cord injuries who have been stable for at least three months and experience significant neuropathic pain.
Not a fit: Patients with uncontrolled seizure disorders, cognitive impairments, or those who are unable to perform kinesthetic imagery may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could offer a new, non-invasive treatment option for managing neuropathic pain in individuals with spinal cord injuries.
How similar studies have performed: While the use of Qigong for pain relief is promising, this specific application for neuropathic pain in spinal cord injury patients is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in prior studies.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Spinal cord injury of greater than or equal to 3 months * Medically stable with paraplegia (T1 and below) or tetraplegia (C4 and below) * Highest level of below-level SCI-related neuropathic pain \>3 on the numeric pain rating scale. Exclusion Criteria: * MRI contra-indications (stabilizing hardware is typically MRI safe) * Uncontrolled seizure disorder; cognitive impairment and/or communicative disability (e.g., due to brain injury) that prevent the participant from following directions or from learning * Ventilator dependency * Pregnancy to plans to become pregnant during study * Inability to perform kinesthetic imagery. * Participants who cannot feel index finger movements will not perform the robot task but will perform all other resting-state and tasks in the MRI scanner.
Where this trial is running
Minneapolis, Minnesota
- University of Minnesota — Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Ann Van de Winckel, PhD, MSPT, PT — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Ann Van de Winckel, PhD, MSPT, PT
- Email: avandewi@umn.edu
- Phone: 612-625-1191
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.