Effectiveness of Tai Chi Practice for Non-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain on Retired Athletes: A Randomized Controlled Study

Abstract

Objective

To determine whether tai chi practice is superior to other means of sports rehabilitation to relieve non-specific chronic low back pain [LBP] in a younger population.

Methods

We randomized 320 retired athletes [aged 37.6  ±  5.4 years, 60.0 percent men] with chronic LBP [visual analog scale ≥40 mm] into treatment [tai chi practice] and control groups. At the beginning, middle, and end of a six-month intervention, patients from both treatment and control groups completed questionnaires assessing the intensity of LBP, and a systematic physical examination was arranged to evaluate participants' health condition. The results were analyzed by one way analysis of variance using statistical software SPSS 17.0. Differences were considered significant if P <  0.05.

Results

After three and six months, no statistically significant difference in the intensity of LBP was demonstrated between the tai chi and swimming groups; significant differences were demonstrated among the tai chi and backward walking, jogging, and no exercise groups.

Conclusions

Tai chi has better efficacy than certain other sports on the treatment of non-specific chronic LBP.

Keywords:

• Chronic low back pain
• randomized controlled study
• tai chi