As a PCN OT team , ensuring a proactive approach to support patients with new conditions and / or difficulties as a result of pain is of paramount importance in order to improve patient outcomes and reduce the demand on services within primary care .
Evidence base and link to occupational therapy : Tai Chi / Qi Gong
Tai Chi and Qigong is a system of Chinese medicine that has helped transform people ’ s health and wellbeing for over 2,500 years within the Eastern province . It has been adopted in Western life as it is recognised that this ancient approach continues to benefit people , by providing tools with which to manage energy levels , regulate health and balance life ( Kuo- Deemer 1988 ).
Tai Chi / Qi Gong , a mind-body exercise therapy comprising of slow , weight shifting movements , has been proven to support patients with a variety of physical and wellbeing difficulties . Research suggests there are numerous benefits from Tai Chi / Qi Gong practise ( Kong et al 2016 ). These include :
• improved balance and falls prevention
• increased flexibility
• improved cardiovascular fitness
• increased muscle strength
• pain reduction
• stress reduction
• relaxation
• enhanced emotional wellbeing and positive mental state
• increased energy levels
• improved immune function
• improved quality of life ( Wang et al 2004 ).
Our service identified that providing Tai Chi / Qi Gong would offer support for a wide variety of patients living with long-term conditions that are not easily treated with a medical model . It is a holistic evidence-based activity that is able to be targeted to the individual needs of patients and offers longer-term support in line with health promotion .
Delivery in practice
All patients offered a course of acupuncture or Tai Chi / Qi Gong must already be known to the PCN OT team for support within the existing programmes . Both acupuncture and Tai Chi / Qi Gong are available in both localities ( Leek and Biddulph ).
Acupuncture is offered within a clinical space provided the GP surgery and is held once a week . Tai Chi / Qi Gong is delivered as a group intervention ; in Biddulph , this is held at the GP practice and in Leek it is held within a local community room .
For acupuncture , when a referral is received for pain management , we undertake an initial assessment of the patient ’ s pain experience and associated functional difficulties using resources from the 10 footsteps programme and the Brief Pain Inventory ( Short Form ).
A pain management programme is then delivered over a period of six weeks , which aims to :
• Provide patients with a toolkit of strategies to enable them to help manage their pain , such as pacing , planning and prioritising activities .
• Provide or suggest any assistive equipment in order to promote independence and safety when carrying out various tasks .
• Give techniques to support with energy conservation , muscle and joint protection .
• Enable patients to continue with activities that they wish to and need to complete despite the presence of pain .
The patient is then offered a course of acupuncture , which is performed as a 20-minute session , once a week , for eight consecutive weeks .
The Tai Chi / Qi Gong groups comprise of 10 one-hour sessions , on a weekly basis . Groups are run by two members of the team and focus on the eight strands of brocade . Each move is demonstrated at different levels , to enable patients to select the most appropriate option depending on their functional ability .
Following each session , patients are provided with a personal copy of the movements to enable them to engage with the exercise independently
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February 2024 OTnews 31