Qigong may improve quality of life for office workers

Qigong training and effects on stress, neck-shoulder pain and life quality in a computerised office environment
L. Skoglund ^a, M. Josephson^a, K. Wahlstedt^a, E. Lampa^a and D. Norbäck^1, a
a Department of Medical Sciences, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Uppsala University and University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice Volume 17, Issue 1, February 2011, Pages 54-57


Background: Qigong is a Chinese health promoting exercise with a rhythmic pattern of slow movements and breathing affecting the autonomous nervous system.

Objectives: To examine the implementation of Qigong for half an hour daily in a computerised office, and to study effects on health state, general health, neck-shoulder and lumbar spine symptoms and stress after six weeks training

Design: A crossover intervention study with 37 employees randomised in two groups. A questionnaire was completed one week before starting study and every second week during the training period. After 6 weeks the first group stopped and the second group started the training.

Results: There was a small significant improvement of neck pain and disability following therapy.

Conclusion: Qigong training may reduce neck disability in office workers. A longer training period might be needed in further Qigong studies in healthy, normal populations.