Preprint / Version 1

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Tai Chi for Tension Headaches

Authors

  • Ryan Abbott Center for East West Medicine, Department of Medicine and 2Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA and RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA 90407, USA
  • Ka-Kit Hui Center for East West Medicine, Department of Medicine and 2Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA and RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA 90407, USA
  • Ron Hays Center for East West Medicine, Department of Medicine and 2Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA and RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA 90407, USA
  • Ming-Dong Li Center for East West Medicine, Department of Medicine and 2Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA and RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA 90407, USA
  • Timothy Pan Center for East West Medicine, Department of Medicine and 2Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA and RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA 90407, USA

Keywords:

complementary and alternative medicine, health-related quality-of-life, integrative medicine, Tai Chi, tension-type headache, traditional Chinese medicine

Abstract

This study examined whether a traditional low-impact mind–body exercise, Tai Chi, affects health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) and headache impact in an adult population suffering from tension-type headaches. Forty-seven participants were randomly assigned to either a 15 week intervention program of Tai Chi instruction or a wait-list control group. HRQOL (SF-36v2) and headache status (HIT-6™) were obtained at baseline and at 5, 10 and 15 weeks post-baseline during the intervention period. Statistically significant (P < 0.05) improvements in favor of the intervention were present for the HIT score and the SF-36 pain, energy/fatigue, social functioning, emotional well-being and mental health summary scores. A 15 week intervention of Tai Chi practice was effective in reducing headache impact and also effective in improving perceptions of some aspects of physical and mental health. Keywords: complementary and alternative medicine, health-related quality-of-life, integrative medicine, Tai Chi, tension-type headache, traditional Chinese medicine

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