Study protocol for a revised randomized trial: Remotely delivered Tai Chi and wellness for Gulf War illness.

BACKGROUND: Many of the 700,000 American military personnel deployed to the Persian Gulf region in 1990 and 1991 have since reported health symptoms of unknown etiology. This cluster of symptoms has been labeled Gulf War Illness and include chronic musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, headaches, memory and attention difficulties, gastrointestinal complaints, skin abnormalities, breathing problems, and mood and sleep problems [1,2]. There have been few high-quality intervention trials and no strong evidence to support available treatments [3]. Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese martial art with benefits that include enhancing physical and mental health and improving quality of life for those with chronic conditions. PROPOSED METHODS: In this randomized controlled trial, GW Veterans are randomly assigned to either Tai Chi or a Wellness control condition, with both remotely delivered intervention groups meeting twice a week for 12 weeks. The primary aim is to examine if Tai Chi is associated with greater improvements in GWI symptoms in Veterans with GWI compared to a Wellness intervention. Participants will receive assessments at baseline, 12 weeks (post-intervention), and follow-up assessments 3- and 9-months post-intervention. The primary outcome measure is the Brief Pain Inventory that examines pain intensity and pain interference. CONCLUSION: This trial will produce valuable results that can have a meaningful impact on healthcare practices for GWI. If proven as a helpful treatment for individuals with GWI, it would support the implementation of remotely delivered Tai Chi classes that Veterans can access from their own homes.

Tai Chi and Qigong for trauma exposed populations: A systematic review.

Background: Trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress are highly prevalent and comorbid with health problems. Despite the apparent systemic nature of post-traumatic stress, recommended treatments neglect trauma's deleterious effects on health. Integrative mind-body treatments for posttraumatic stress, such as Tai Chi and Qigong (TCQ), may offer a promising adjunct to first-line treatments. Method: A systematic search was conducted to identify trials that examined Tai Chi and/or Qigong as treatments for trauma-exposed populations. Studies were examined for rigor; design, sample and intervention characteristics, dropout, attendance, satisfaction, acceptability, and key findings were systematically extracted. Results: The 6 studies included are all pilot or feasibility trials with descriptive or mixed-methods outcomes. No randomized trials or rigorous studies were identified. Dropout rates ranged widely, and adverse reactions were not evident. Reported satisfaction was high and benefits of relaxation, reductions in mental health symptoms, and improvements in pain and physical and cognitive functioning were noted. Limitations: All the studies were non-rigorous and relatively small, with no comparison groups, or follow-up assessments; in many cases, posttraumatic stress symptoms were not formally assessed. Conclusions: The paucity and lack of rigor of the studies identified for this review highlights the need for larger, methodologically sound clinical trials. The reviewed studies suggest that TCQ practices have the potential to reduce symptoms and improve functioning for individuals exposed to trauma and provide evidence that TCQ is feasible, acceptable, and low risk in these populations. Possible mechanistic pathways supporting TCQ as a treatment for posttraumatic stress are considered.