Qualitative Tai Chi study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring chronic musculoskeletal pain patients’ experiences of practicing Tai Chi
IRAS ID
331032
Contact name
John Hughes
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of West London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 30 days
Research summary
Chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions such as low back pain and osteoarthritis are leading causes of disability worldwide. Physical activity has been shown to reduce chronic pain by building muscle strength and flexibility, and reducing fatigue, pain and inflammation. Group based exercise is now a first line treatment recommendation among various clinical guidelines for the treatment of chronic musculoskeletal conditions, including the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). However, chronic pain patients frequently present with comorbidities, and there remains a lack of evidence exploring which forms of exercise might be more beneficial for complex patients presenting with multimorbidity.
Tai Chi is a widely practiced mindful exercise for its health benefits. Tai Chi consists of gentle, slow, and low-impact meditative movements with a focus on breath, mind, and body to achieve wellbeing and inner peace. Given the combined emphasis on a mindful mental state while exercising, it may be a particularly beneficial form of exercise for patients presenting with comorbidities such as anxiety and depression, fatigue or insomnia. To date, no published qualitative study has looked at the presence of wider benefits from Tai Chi amongst a heterogeneous sample of general chronic pain musculoskeletal patients.
The Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine (RLHIM) is located within UCLH NHS Trust and is one of the largest public sector provider of Integrated Medicine in Europe. The hospital has extensive clinical experience of providing Tai Chi to patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions. The current qualitative study aims to collect qualitative data on patients’ experiences of learning and practicing Tai Chi, including any wider benefits from practice. It is hoped that the findings will help inform clinical pathways on which form of exercise may be more beneficial for chronic pain patients, within UCLH and the wider NHS.REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/EM/0139
Date of REC Opinion
24 Jun 2024
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion