A pilot study evaluating mindfulness-based stress reduction and massage for the management of chronic pain.
Margaret Plews-Ogan, Justine E Owens, Matthew Goodman, Pamela Wolfe, John B Schorling
Journal of General Internal Medicine December 2005 DOI: 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2005.0247.x (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized trial Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 30 |
| Population | Patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) massage |
| Duration | 8 weeks, with follow-up at week 12 |
| Measures | 0 to 10 numeric rating scales, SF-12 |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Massage reduced pain unpleasantness and improved mental health status more than standard care at week 8, but these differences were no longer significant at week 12. MBSR showed no significant pain benefits, though it improved mental health status at week 12 compared with standard care. The authors suggest MBSR may be more effective and longer-lasting for mood improvement, while massage may be more effective for reducing pain. |
Abstract
Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and massage may be useful adjunctive therapies for chronic musculoskeletal pain. To evaluate the feasibility of studying MBSR and massage for the management of chronic pain and estimate their effects on pain and mood. Randomized trial comparing MBSR or massage with standard care. Thirty patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Pain was assessed with 0 to 10 numeric rating scales. Physical and mental health status was measured with the SF-12. The study completion rate was 76.7%. At week 8, the massage group had average difference scores for pain unpleasantness of 2.9 and mental health status of 13.6 compared with 0.13 (P<.05) and 3.9 (P<.04), respectively, for the standard care group. These differences were no longer significant at week 12. There were no significant differences in the pain outcomes for the MBSR group. At week 12, the mean change in mental health status for the MBSR group was 10.2 compared with -1.7 in the standard care group (P<.04). It is feasible to study MBSR and massage in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Mindfulness-based stress reduction may be more effective and longer-lasting for mood improvement while massage may be more effective for reducing pain.
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 41
- Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being JAMA Internal Medicine January 6, 2014
- A systematic review of neurobiological and clinical features of mindfulness meditations Psychological Medicine November 27, 2009
- Prospects for a clinical science of mindfulness-based intervention. American Psychologist October 1, 2015
- Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) for Improving Health, Quality of Life, and Social Functioning in Adults Campbell Systematic Reviews 2012
- Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Physical Conditions: A Narrative Review Evaluating Levels of Evidence ISRN Psychiatry November 14, 2012
and 36 more in the library
Cites 6
- What Do We Really Know About Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction? Psychosomatic Medicine 2002
- Four-Year Follow-Up of a Meditation-Based Program for the Self-Regulation of Chronic Pain Clinical Journal of Pain 1986
- Use of mind-body medical therapies. Journal of General Internal Medicine January 2004
- The impact of a meditation-based stress reduction program on fibromyalgia. General Hospital Psychiatry September 1, 1993
- The clinical use of mindfulness meditation for the self-regulation of chronic pain. Journal of Behavioral Medicine June 1985
and 1 more in the library