The qigong of 18 Luohan Hands and yoga for prevention of low back pain: A conceptual synthesis.

The practice of hathayoga is based on the following assumptions: complexity and multidimensionality of various positive influences on an individual's wholeness through the mind, body and their conscious control. On the other hand, the practice of the qigong of 18 Luohan Hands is based on slow movements designed to mobilise qi within the body. This article presents a conceptual integration of yoga and qigong when considering the congruence of beneficial effects for various systems of the body and prevention of low back pain (LBP). The author emphasizes the usefulness of qigong and yoga practice in clinical units and explains how the essence of these practices relates to each other. The justification of this fusion as well as differences between these two modalities are also described and explained. Within the scope of this article the existence of several similarities between these two practices has been suggested for both practitioners and researchers. They can obtain valuable and additional arguments through cross-fertilization of ideas across presented studies united by shared, underlying biomechanical concepts and physiological effects. Such conceptual enrichment may be a useful source of inspiration for qigong and yoga practitioners who tend to prevent LBP and therapists (physiotherapists, occupational therapists, rehabilitants, nurses, bodywork and movement therapists or massage therapists) intended to manage their patients' back pains and overall health on a daily basis.