Nearly half of adults with spinal cord injury (SCI) report meditating at least once a week, with relaxation, curiosity, and improving mental well-being as common motivators. A survey of 94 individuals from a U.S. rehabilitation center found that app-guided and virtual individual sessions are preferred delivery modes. Key barriers include the inability to stop thoughts, lack of knowledge about meditation, and uncertainty about correct techniques. Physician discussions about meditation were infrequent. The findings highlight opportunities and challenges for promoting meditation engagement among people with SCI.
A randomized clinical trial tested a six-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) intervention in 56 individuals with spinal cord injury. The MBSR group showed significant improvements in resilience (scores increased by approximately 4 points) and quality of life (scores improved by around 3 points) immediately after the intervention and at one-month follow-up, while the control group showed no significant changes. No significant improvements in individual independence were detected between or within groups. The authors conclude that MBSR, a simple, nurse-led, non-invasive intervention, enhances resilience and quality of life in this population, but the lack of improvement in independence warrants further research.
A tailored 4-week Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) program for adults with spinal cord injury in a Korean rehabilitation hospital may improve spiritual well-being and inflammatory profiles, especially among those with lower baseline depression. The non-randomized controlled trial assigned 51 inpatients to MBCT or treatment-as-usual. No significant overall differences in quality of life or spiritual well-being were found between groups over time, but a significant group effect for spiritual well-being emerged. Among participants with normal-to-mild depression, significant interactions were observed. Biomarker analyses showed increased IL-10, decreased sTNFR2, and lower CRP levels in the MBCT group, suggesting reduced inflammation. Further randomized trials are needed.
A pilot randomized trial tested a 4-week clinical meditation and imagery program for people with chronic spinal cord injury and chronic pain. Pain interference decreased more in the education control group at both follow-ups, with a large effect size. Several secondary outcomes, including worst pain intensity, depressive symptoms, and belief in pain as a sign of harm, showed more favorable changes in the meditation group, also with large effect sizes. Perceived stress improved more in the control group. The program was feasible and acceptable; further research is warranted.