Mindfulness-Based Meditation Versus Progressive Relaxation Meditation: Impact on Chronic Pain in Older Female Patients With Diabetic Neuropathy
Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine January 1, 2019 N. Hussain, Amira S. A. Said
Mindfulness meditation and progressive relaxation each reduced chronic pain in older women with diabetes. In a randomized trial of 105 participants, those practicing mindfulness meditation reported a 28.7% reduction in average daily pain, while those using progressive relaxation reported a 39.7% reduction by study end. The mindfulness group's pain score dropped from 5.2 ± 1.2 to 3.0 ± 1.1 at week 12, a significant improvement over the control group. Patient satisfaction also increased significantly in the mindfulness group. The authors argue that integrative therapies like mindfulness meditation can complement pain management, potentially reducing medication use and improving comorbid conditions without risk of addiction.