Riassunto dello studio

Forty-five randomized controlled trials containing 3178 patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) were randomized to receive Traditional Chinese exercises (n=1610) or a control (n=1568; i.e., active therapy or no treatment) for pain relief. The primary outcome of interest was musculoskeletal pain measured on the visual analogue scale (VAS). Additional outcomes of interest included the Oswestry Dysfunction Index (ODI), and the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) for pain, stiffness, and physical function. Subgroup analyses for VAS pain by type of Traditional Chinese exercise and disease type were conducted. Results of this study revealed that pooled VAS pain scores were significantly lower in the Traditional Chinese exercise group vs control (p<0.01). Pooled WOMAC pain and function scores were also significantly in favour of the traditional Chinese exercise group (p<0.05 for both), with pooled WOMAC stiffness scores trending in favour of the traditional Chinese exercise group.