Effects of meditation on pain intensity, physical function, quality of life and depression in adults with low back pain - A systematic review with meta-analysis.
Complementary Therapies in Medicine March 1, 2023 Helena Schmidt, Christian Pilat
A systematic review with meta-analysis of 12 studies (1005 participants) found that meditation significantly reduced pain intensity (small effect) and improved physical quality of life in low back pain patients immediately after treatment, compared to control conditions. However, these benefits did not persist at follow-up (average 20 weeks, range 4–52 weeks). No significant effects were found for functional disability, mental quality of life, or depression. The quality of evidence was moderate, and the authors call for larger, well-designed trials to confirm the findings.