The effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention on physical function in individuals with chronic low back pain: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
K Soundararajan, Venkatesan Prem, Thomas J Kishen
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice November 2022 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2022.101623 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Individuals with chronic low back pain |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) |
| Duration | Eight weeks and six months follow-up |
| Measures | Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Physical function |
| Key findings | MBSR therapy improved physical function in chronic low back pain at eight weeks and six months follow-up, with a significant between-group difference on the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire at eight weeks (mean difference -1.28, 95% CI -2.04 to -0.53) but not at six months (mean difference -0.16, 95% CI -1.01 to 0.69). The authors call for further high-quality trials on long-term effects. |
Abstract
Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is often used as a complementary treatment for chronic low back pain (CLBP), but its effects on the physical function component of the outcome are not addressed. This systematic review aims to examine the effectiveness of MBSR on outcomes of physical functions in CLBP individuals. Databases searched included PubMed/MEDLINE, PEDro, The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, Embase, and other sources (Google Scholar, ProQuest, Research Gate) from inception to January 2022. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing MBSR with additional interventions that evaluated physical function among CLBP individuals were included. Two independent reviewers performed data extraction. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Six RCTs involving CLBP individuals were eligible for review. The between-group differences in RMDQ for the MBSR therapies against comparator therapies were significant at eight weeks follow-up (3 RCTs; MD, -1.28 [CI, -2.04 to -0.53]) and six months follow-up (2 RCTs; MD, -0.16 [CI, -1.01 to 0.69]). MBSR therapy improves physical function at 8 weeks and 6 months follow-up in CLBP individuals. Further high-quality RCTs are warranted for the long-term effect of MBSR therapy on physical function outcomes.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being Diverse adult clinical populations | 2014 | Meta-analysis | n = 3,515 |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis Healthy subjects | 2009 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Nonclinical groups of adult meditators | 2012 | Meta-analysis | n = 163 |
| Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse Adults with recurrent depression in full or partial remission | 2016 | Meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized controlled trials | n = 1,258 |
| Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials | 2011 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 7
- Chronic low back pain management: clinical and psychophysiological outcomes of multimodal approaches-a randomised controlled trial on yoga and mindfulness. BMJ open sport & exercise medicine 2025
- Bridging traditions: a template analysis of Buddhist and Western psychological approaches to mindfulness. Frontiers in Psychology June 10, 2026
- Psychosocial Moderators of Response to a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Trial for Chronic Low Back Pain: Considerations for Intervention Science and Development. Pain Medicine March 25, 2026
- The effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) interventions on nursing student performance and well-being: A systematic review. Journal of Professional Nursing 2026
- Impact of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention on Pain and Psychological Factors in Women With Chronic Painful Temporomandibular Disorders. Journal of oral rehabilitation December 1, 2025
and 2 more in the library
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