Diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) is the most common cause of neuropathy worldwide. Symptoms of pain and paresthesias markedly impair quality of life (QOL) and result in sleep disturbances, disability and costly health care utilization. Pharmacologic therapies provide little if any relief. In small studies, Qigong, a mind-body practice that integrates body awareness, focused attention and balance training, has shown to be helpful in the treatment of chronic pain. We studied the feasibility of utilizing Qigong to improve pain and QOL in patients with painful DPN. 

This was a non-randomized pilot study that included 10 patients with DPN.  Subjects completed 9 weekly online group sessions of Qigong with a trained instructor. Adherence rates, acceptability of the intervention and technical issues were recorded as feasibility outcomes. Secondary outcomes of pain and QOL were measured by the Visual Analogue Scale, Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System Neuropathic Pain Quality scale (PROMIS-PQ-Neuro) and Neuropathy-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (Neuro-QoL).