Protocol for mindfulness-oriented recovery enhancement (MORE) in the management of lumbosacral radiculopathy/radiculitis symptoms: A randomized controlled trial.
Ryan S Wexler, Devon J Fox, Hannah Edmond, Johnny Lemau, Danielle Zuzero, Melissa Bollen, Diane Montenegro, Anand Parikshak, Austin R Thompson, Nels L Carlson, Hans L Carlson, Anna E. Wentz, Ryan Bradley, Douglas A Hanes, Heather Zwickey, Courtney K Pickworth
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications August 2022 DOI: 10.1016/j.conctc.2022.100962 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial protocol Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Adults with lumbosacral radiculopathy/radiculitis recruited from the Portland, OR area |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE) |
| Duration | 8-week intervention with assessments repeated after the intervention is complete (8-week follow-up visit) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Low back pain Lumbosacral radiculopathy Mindfulness-oriented recovery enhancement Rct protocol Virtual intervention |
| Key findings | The protocol proposes testing whether 8 weeks of Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement, compared with treatment as usual, improves self-reported pain, physical function, quality of life, depression symptoms, trait mindfulness, and reinterpretation of pain in people with lumbosacral radiculopathy. The authors also hypothesize that participants with abnormal baseline surface electromyography findings will show improved findings at 8-week follow-up, and state this is the first trial to use an objective measure (sEMG) to evaluate a mindfulness-based intervention for this condition. |
Abstract
Lumbosacral radiculopathy/radiculitis (LR) or "sciatica" is a commonly intractable sequelae of chronic low back pain (LBP), and challenges in the treatment of LR indicate that persistent pain may have both mechanical and neuropathic origins. Mindfulness-based interventions have been demonstrated to be effective tools in mitigating self-reported pain in LBP patients. This paper describes the protocol for a randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating the effects of the specific mindfulness-based intervention Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE) on LR symptoms and sequelae, including mental health and physical function. Participants recruited from the Portland, OR area are screened before completing a baseline visit that includes a series of self-report questionnaires and surface electromyography (sEMG) of the lower extremity. Upon enrollment, participants are randomly assigned to the MORE (experimental) group or treatment as usual (control) group for 8 weeks. Self-reported assessments and sEMG studies are repeated after the intervention is complete for pre/post-intervention comparisons. The outcome measures evaluate self-reported pain, physical function, quality of life, depression symptoms, trait mindfulness, and reinterpretation of pain, with surface electromyography (sEMG) findings evaluating objective physical function in patients with LR. To our knowledge, this is the first trial to date using an objective measure, sEMG, to evaluate the effects of a mindfulness-based intervention on LR symptoms. We hypothesize that MORE will be effective in improving self-reported pain, physical function, quality of life, depression symptoms, mindfulness, and reinterpretation of pain scores after 8 weeks of mindfulness training as compared to treatment as usual. Additionally, we hypothesize that individuals in the MORE group with abnormal sEMG findings at baseline will have improved sEMG findings at their 8-week follow-up visit.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- Virtually delivered Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE) reduces daily pain intensity in patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy: a randomized controlled trial. PAIN Reports April 1, 2024
- "Noticing the Way that I'm Noticing Pain": A Qualitative Analysis of Therapeutic Progression in Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement for Patients with Lumbosacral Radicular Pain. Mindfulness 2026
Cites 21
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- Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Reduces Anxiety, Depression, and Suicidal Ideation in Veterans Medical Care November 13, 2014
- Pain, hedonic regulation, and opioid misuse: Modulation of momentary experience by Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement in opioid-treated chronic pain patients Drug and Alcohol Dependence March 29, 2017
- Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement vs Supportive Group Therapy for Co-occurring Opioid Misuse and Chronic Pain in Primary Care JAMA Internal Medicine February 28, 2022
- The Relationship Between Trait Mindfulness and Affective Symptoms: A Meta-analysis of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) Clinical Psychology Review November 11, 2019
and 16 more in the library