Dr Ian Ellis-Jones ... Living Mindfully Now

NOTE. This blog is in recess. Nevertheless, you will find here over 500 of my posts exploring many aspects of spirituality, mindfulness, psychology, philosophy, literature and the performing arts. A member of the Australian and New Zealand Mental Health Association, I lectured at the NSW Institute of Psychiatry (now the mental health portfolio of HETI) for 14 years and at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) for 16 years. Mindfully yours, Ian Ellis-Jones PhD. 26 July 2021.

Friday, May 13, 2016

HAVE YOU TRIED MINDFULNESS FOR YOUR BACK PAIN?

To date, mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) has not been rigorously evaluated for young and middle-aged adults with chronic low back pain.

A recent issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association reports on a trial which compared treatment with MBSR with usual care as well as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

In a study of 342 adults aged 20-70, randomly and equally allocated to each treatment group and having suffered with back pain for an average of 7.3 years, those given mindfulness training found it easier to get out of chairs, go upstairs and had less pain than those given usual care.

In the MBSR group, 61 per cent felt more able to move around without pain than the 44 per cent who carried on with their usual care. CBT was equally as good as MBSR at reducing pain. The effects lasted for at least a year.

Among adults with chronic low back pain, treatment with MBSR or CBT, compared with usual care, resulted in greater improvement in back pain and functional limitations at 26 weeks, with no significant differences in outcomes between MBSR and CBT.

These findings suggest that MBSR may be an effective treatment option for patients with chronic low back pain.

Study: Cherkin, Daniel C et al. ‘Effect of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction vs Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or Usual Care on Back Pain and Functional Limitations in Adults With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial.’ JAMA. 2016;315(12):1240-1249. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.2323.

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION CAN REDUCE THE SENSATION OF PAIN

IRISH STUDY SUPPORTS THE USE OF MINDFULNESS FOR CHRONIC PAIN

MINDFUL STRETCHING FOR NECK AND SHOULDER PAIN AND ASSOCIATED HEADACHES

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION AND PAIN MANAGEMENT

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