***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: OBJECTIVES Based on the model by Tsang et al. ( 2002 ) which summarized the etiological factors and consequences of depression in elderly with chronic physical illnesses , a r and omized clinical trial of a special form of Qigong ( The Eight Section Brocades ) was conducted to assess if it improved the biopsychosocial health of participants . DESIGN 50 geriatric patients in sub-acute stage of chronic physical illnesses were recruited and r and omly assigned into the intervention and control group . The intervention group was given a 12-week period of Qigong practice while the control group was given traditional remedial rehabilitation activities . RESULTS The intervention group participants expressed improvement in physical health , ADL , psychological health , social relationship , and health in general as reflected by scores of the Perceived Benefit Question naire and informal feedback . CONCLUSION Although results are not significant in the generalization measures , it may be due to small effect size , small sample size , and short intervention period . Although not all of the hypotheses are supported , this report shows that Qigong ( the Eight Section Brocades ) is promising as an alternative intervention for elderly with chronic physical illness to improve their biopsychosocial health . More systematic evaluation with larger sample size and longer period of intervention is now underway in Hong Kong . Results will be reported once available The influence of complementary healing treatment on paraspinal electromagnetic activity at specific neuromuscular sites was examined in an exploratory pilot study that used a multisite surface electromyographic ( sEMG ) assessment procedure . The study was a replication and extension of previous research that indicated that complementary healing had a significant effect in normalizing the activity of the " end organ " for the central nervous system ( CNS ) . Multisite sEMG electrodes were placed on the frontalis , cervical ( C4 ) , thoracic ( T6 ) , and lumbosacral ( L3 ) paraspinals of 44 subjects who were divided into three groups : ( 1 ) students/ patients of a Qigong practitioner ( n = 16 ) ; ( 2 ) students/ patients of a therapeutic touch ( TT ) practitioner ( n = 14 ) ; and ( 3 ) nonbelievers in complementary healing ( n = 14 ) . A traditional ABAC experimental design was used with each subject evaluated for one 20-minute session that included four 5-minute segments . The purpose of this study was to measure the variable energizing effect of  Qigong therapy  along with the anecdotally and experimentally established relaxation effect of TT therapy relative to patient belief and expectancy . Treatment sessions consisted of Qigong and a modified form of TT intervention for all three groups . Due to the double-blind nature of the study , however , group 1 subjects were aware of only the Qigong intervention ; group 2 subjects were aware of only the TT intervention , and group 3 subjects were informed that the study was design ed to assess the neuromuscular activity of individuals in a seated position . The results indicated a statistically significant rise in electromagnetic activity for group 1 during the Qigong intervention segment ( p < .024 ) . Group 2 demonstrated a modest although overall nonsignificant decrease in multisite sEMG levels for both treatment protocol s , whereas group 3 exhibited relatively consistent neuromuscular activity for both control and treatment segments . The results of this study are considered preliminary in nature , however , due to the potential influence of several confounds including psychophysiological factors , established behavior patterns , and the possibility for information transfer due to sensory cues OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of body awareness therapy combined with qigong for patients with fibromyalgia . DESIGN A controlled r and omized pilot study . SUBJECTS Thirty-six female patients with fibromyalgia were r and omized to either qigong plus body awareness therapy ( n = 19 ) or a control group ( n = 17 ) . METHODS The programme was conducted once a week over a period of 3 months . The outcome measures were an observational method called the Body Awareness Rating Scale , the Fibromyalgia Impact Question naire and 2 tests of physical function . An interview was conducted with the patients in the treatment group . RESULTS Seven patients in each group ( 39 % ) were lost to the post-test examination . The inter-group analysis revealed a significant improvement in movement harmony for the treatment group ( p = 0.03 ) , while no differences were found in the Fibromyalgia Impact Question naire or the functional tests . The intra-group analysis revealed an improvement in movement harmony for the treatment group ( p = 0.01 ) , while the total score of the Fibromyalgia Impact Question naire deteriorated ( p = 0.04 ) in the control group . The interviews indicated that several patients had experienced exacerbation of symptoms while st and ing still , and /or difficulty in concentrating on the movements . CONCLUSIONS Although improvement in movement harmony occurred in the patients completing the treatment programme , no improvement was found for fibromyalgia symptoms or physical function This study examined the effects of providing patients with selected types of information prior to surgery and the reported frequency of use of coping behaviors following surgery . The relationship of the reported frequency of coping behaviors and outcomes of surgery was also explored . A total of 111 patients were r and omly assigned to three groups . One received procedure information ; a second , procedure and sensation information ; and a third group , procedure and sensation information , plus information on selected coping strategies . Results showed no evidence that the type of information provided for patients prior to surgery increased the reported frequency of coping behaviors or that the reported frequency of coping behaviors was related to improved outcomes as evaluated by pain intensity , distress , or selected physical complications BACKGROUND Taiji ( T'ai Chi ) has been shown to have generally positive effects on functional balance . However , few studies have investigated the mechanisms by which Taiji may improve balance . The goal of this study was to evaluate changes in sensory and biomechanical balance mechanisms as a consequence of a traditional Taiji exercise program for healthy older adults that intentionally emphasized both Taiji forms and Qigong meditation . MATERIAL / METHODS This was a r and omized controlled trial with blind testers . Forty-nine healthy older adults ( mean age 80.4 , SD . 8.6 ) were r and omized to participate in Taiji-Qigong ( TQ ) training ( N=33 ) or a wait-list control group ( WC , N=16 ) . TQ instruction was provided 1 hour/session , 3 sessions a week for six months . Somatosensory , visual , and vestibular ratios of the Sensory Organization Test , and quiet stance Base of Support ( BoS ) and feet opening angle measures were collected prior to instruction ( T0 ) , at two months ( T2 ) , and six months ( T6 ) . RESULTS TQ  group vestibular ratio scores ( normalized to T0 ) were + 22 % and + 47 % greater than WC at T2 and T6 , respectively . The TQ group exhibited an increase in quiet stance BoS over time but not feet opening angle , indicating that the increase in BoS was due to the adoption of wider stances . CONCLUSIONS Improved use of vestibular input and wider stances are two mechanisms by which Taiji-Qigong training may improve healthy older adults ' balance . Further study is needed to evaluate other balance mechanisms and the individual and combined effects of different aspects of traditional Taiji practice OBJECTIVES This report released findings of a r and omized controlled trial conducted in Hong Kong to further our underst and ing of the psychosocial effects of qigong on elderly persons with depression . DESIGN Eighty-two participants with a diagnosis of depression or obvious features of depression were recruited and r and omly assigned into the intervention and comparison group . The intervention group was given a 16-week period of Qigong practice while the comparison group participated in a newspaper reading group with same duration and frequency . RESULTS After eight weeks of qigong practice , the intervention group participants outstripped themselves in improvement in mood , self-efficacy and personal well being , and physical and social domains of self-concept when compared with comparison subjects . After 16 weeks of practice , the improvement generalized to the daily task domain of the self-concept . CONCLUSIONS This report shows that regular qigong practice could relieve depression , improve self-efficacy and personal well being among elderly persons with chronic physical illness and depression Previous studies have suggested that Taiji practice may improve immune function . This study was intended to examine whether 5 months of moderate Taiji and Qigong ( TQ ) practice could improve the immune response to influenza vaccine  in older adults . Fifty older adults ( mean age 77.2 + /- 1.3 years ) participated in this study ( TQ N = 27 ; wait-list control [ CON ] N = 23 ) . Baseline pre-vaccine blood sample s were collected . All subjects then received the 2003 - 2004 influenza vaccine during the first week of the intervention . Post-vaccine blood sample s were collected 3 , 6 and 20 weeks post-intervention for analysis of anti-influenza hemagglutination inhibition ( HI ) titers . We found a significant ( p < 0.05 ) increase in the magnitude and duration of the antibody response to influenza vaccine in TQ participants when compared to CON . The vaccination result ed in a 173 , 130 , and 109 % increase in HI titer at 3 , 6 , and 20 weeks post-vaccine , respectively , in the TQ group compared to 58 , 54 , and 10 % in CON . There was a significant between group difference at 3 and 20 weeks post-vaccine and at 20 weeks the TQ group had significantly higher titers compared to the pre-vaccine time point , whereas the CON group did not . A higher percentage of TQ subjects also responded to the influenza A strains with a protective ( > 40HI ) antibody response ( 37 % TQ vs. 20 % CON for the H1N1 strain and 56 % TQ vs. 45 % CON for the H3N2 strain ) , but the differences between groups were not statistically significant . Traditional TQ practice improves the antibody response to influenza vaccine in older adults , but further study is needed to determine whether the enhanced response is sufficient to provide definitive protection from influenza infection Background Because of the paucity of effective evidence -based therapies for children with recurrent abdominal pain , we evaluated the therapeutic effect of guided imagery , a well-studied self-regulation technique . Methods 22 children , aged 5 – 18 years , were r and omized to learn either breathing exercises alone or guided imagery with progressive muscle relaxation . Both groups had 4-weekly sessions with a therapist . Children reported the numbers of days with pain , the pain intensity , and missed activities due to abdominal pain using a daily pain diary collected at baseline and during the intervention . Monthly phone calls to the children reported the number of days with pain and the number of days of missed activities experienced during the month of and month following the intervention . Children with ≤ 4 days of pain/month and no missed activities due to pain were defined as being healed . Depression , anxiety , and somatization were measured in both children and parents at baseline . Results At baseline the children who received guided imagery had more days of pain during the preceding month ( 23 vs. 14 days , P = 0.04 ) . There were no differences in the intensity of painful episodes or any baseline psychological factors between the two groups . Children who learned guided imagery with progressive muscle relaxation had significantly greater decrease in the number of days with pain than those learning breathing exercises alone after one ( 67 % vs. 21 % , P = 0.05 ) , and two ( 82 % vs. 45 % , P < 0.01 ) months and significantly greater decrease in days with missed activities at one ( 85 % vs. 15 % , P = 0.02 ) and two ( 95 % vs. 77 % . P = 0.05 ) months . During the two months of follow-up , more children who had learned guided imagery met the threshold of ≤ 4 day of pain each month and no missed activities ( RR = 7.3 , 95%CI [ 1.1,48.6 ] ) than children who learned only the breathing exercises . Conclusion The therapeutic efficacy of guided imagery with progressive muscle relaxation found in this study is consistent with our present underst and ing of the pathophysiology of recurrent abdominal pain in children . Although unfamiliar to many pediatricians , guided imagery is a simple , noninvasive therapy with potential benefit for treating children with RAP UNLABELLED The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of qigong compared with exercise therapy and no treatment .  Elderly patients with chronic neck pain ( > 6 months ) were r and omly assigned to qigong or exercise therapy ( each 24 sessions over a period of 3 months ) or to a waiting list control . Patients completed st and ardized question naires at baseline and after 3 and 6 months . The main outcome measure was average neck pain on the visual analogue scale after 3 months . Secondary outcomes were neck pain and disability ( NPAD ) and quality of life ( SF-36 ) .  One hundred seventeen patients ( age , 76 + /- 8 years , 95 % women ) were included in the intention-to-treat analysis . The average duration of neck pain was 19.0 + /- 14.9 years . After 3 months , no significant differences were observed between the qigong group and the waiting list control group ( visual analogue scale mean difference , -11 mm [ CI , -24.0 ; 2.1 ] , P = .099 ) or between the qigong group and the exercise therapy group ( -2.5 mm [ - 15.4 ; 10.3 ] , P = .699 ) . Results for the NPAD were similar ( qigong vs waiting list -6.7 ( -15.4 ; 2.1 ) , P = .135 ; qigong vs exercise therapy 2.3 ( -6.2 ; 10.8 ) ; P = .600 ) 
    Output:
    
There are few RCTs testing the effectiveness of internal qigong in the management of pain conditions .
Collectively , the existing trial evidence is not convincing enough to suggest that internal qigong is an effective modality for pain management .
PERSPECTIVE This review of controlled clinical trials focused on the effects of internal qigong , a self-directed energy healing intervention involving movement and meditation .
Collectively , the existing trial evidence is not convincing enough to suggest that internal qigong is an effective modality for pain management .