Could tai chi soothe stubborn gut troubles?
NCT ID NCT04132804
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study explores whether practicing tai chi, a gentle mind-body exercise, can reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C). Adults aged 18 to 70 with IBS-C will take part in tai chi sessions and report their symptom severity and satisfaction. The goal is to see if this low-impact practice offers relief without medication.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Tai Chi
- What this could lead to
- If it works, tai chi could offer a gentle, drug-free option for managing IBS-C symptoms.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small pilot study, so results may not apply to everyone. Tai chi may not reduce symptoms more than other relaxation methods.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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31 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jul 2020
- Finished
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Jul 2022
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 70 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion 1. Age 18 - 70 years 2. BMI ≤ 35 3. Rome IV criteria for IBS-C 4. Continued IBS-C throughout run-in period 5. Compliant with reporting during run-in 6. Ability to follow verbal and written instructions 7. Ability to record daily patient reported outcomes via RedCap survey 8. Ability to use the GeoPain app on a smart phone 9. Ability to use Zoom as a platform for conducting study visits virtually 10. Ability to respond to 80% of the daily diaries 11. Ability to attend at least 7 out of 8 Tai Chi classes 12. Informed consent form signed by the subjects Exclusion 1. Unwilling to abstain from participation in Tai Chi (other than that provided for the study) or other mind-body practices (i.e. yoga that is new to regimen) until completion of the study 2. Non-English speaking 3. Participation in any other clinical trial with active intervention within the last 30 days 4. Non-compliance with reporting during run-in period 5. Inability to stand without assistance for 20 minutes 6. Patients reporting any usage of a prohibited medication during the run-in period 7. History of regular opiate or narcotic pain-reliever use 8. Current use of prescribed or illicit opioids 9. Change in current medication regimen related to GI motility, laxatives, or antidepressants 10. Abdominal pain severity of 4 on a 0-4 visual analogue scale, where 4 is the worst possible pain, during pre-screen or run-in 11. Severe osteoarthritis 12. Severe rheumatoid arthritis 13. Severe constipation defined as \<1 bowel movement per week without use of laxatives 14. History of GI lumen surgery (including gastric bypass) at any time or other GI or abdominal operations within 60 days prior to entry into the study 15. History of small bowel resection (except if related to appendectomy) 16. Subjects anticipating surgical intervention during the study 17. Angina, coronary bypass, or myocardial infarction within 6 months prior to Screening Visit 18. Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis 19. History of intestinal stricture (e.g., Crohn's disease) 20. BMI \>35 21. Pregnancy (or positive urine pregnancy test(s) in females of childbearing potential) 22. Known history of diabetes (type 1 or 2) 23. History of gastroparesis 24. History of abdominal radiation treatment 25. History of pancreatitis 26. History of malabsorption or celiac disease 27. History of intestinal obstruction or subjects at high risk of intestinal obstruction including suspected small bowel adhesions 28. History of human immunodeficiency virus 29. History of cancer within the past 5 years (except adequately-treated localized basal cell skin cancer or in situ uterine cervical cancer) 30. Neurological disorders, metabolic disorders, or other significant disease that would impair their ability to participate in the study 31. Any other clinically significant disease interfering with the assessments according to the Investigator (e.g., disease requiring corrective treatment, potentially leading to study discontinuation) 32. Any relevant biochemical abnormality interfering with the assessments according to the Investigator 33. Inability to attend at least 7 out of the 8 Tai Chi classes 34. Inability to respond to 80% of the daily diaries
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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