Relaxation and Mindfulness in Pain: A Review.
Emma Dunford, Miles Thompson DClinPsy
Reviews in pain March 2010 DOI: 10.1177/204946371000400105 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Patients with acute and chronic pain |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Relaxation shows some evidence of reducing pain in acute and chronic pain, but improvements may not persist. Mindfulness shows more limited evidence of improving psychological measures and physical functioning, with gains maintained at follow-up. Further research is needed. |
Abstract
This article reviews the existing, peer-reviewed evidence for the use of relaxation and mindfulness in both acute and chronic pain.There is some evidence that relaxation can reduce pain outcomes in both acute and chronic pain, however there is evidence that these improvements are not maintained over time.More limited research suggests that mindfulness can lead to improvements in psychological measures and physical functioning and these improvements appear to be maintained at follow-up.Further research is needed. Both researchers and practitioners need to be clearer on the outcomes that their techniques best facilitate and the processes which are active within them.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical populations | 2003 | Review | |
| Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects | 2007 | Review | |
| Mindfulness Interventions | 2016 | Review | |
| Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation | 2017 | Review | |
| Mindfulness and acceptance: expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition | 2005 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Psychologically based interventions for adults with chronic neuropathic pain: a scoping review. Pain Medicine May 3, 2024
- Qualitative findings from a randomized trial of mindfulness-based and cognitive-behavioral group therapy for opioid-treated chronic low back pain Journal of Health Psychology April 28, 2024
- Impact of mind-body treatment interventions on quality of life in neurofibromatosis patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Dermatologic Therapy January 2021
Cites 14
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2003
- Mindfulness meditation for the treatment of chronic low back pain in older adults: A randomized controlled pilot study ☆ Pain June 4, 2007
- Mindfulness meditation alleviates depressive symptoms in women with fibromyalgia: Results of a randomized clinical trial Arthritis Care & Research January 31, 2007
- Effect of Mindfulness‐Based stress reduction in rheumatoid arthritis patients Arthritis Care & Research September 28, 2007
and 9 more in the library