Effects of meditation on pain intensity, physical function, quality of life and depression in adults with low back pain – A systematic review with meta-analysis
Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a common biopsychosocial health problem. Meditation may provide a complementary treatment option for LBP patients. Objectives: The aim of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to examine the effects of meditation on pain intensity, functional disability, qu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Complementary Therapies in Medicine |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965229923000110 |
| _version_ | 1811173464877301760 |
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| author | Helena Schmidt Christian Pilat |
| author_facet | Helena Schmidt Christian Pilat |
| author_sort | Helena Schmidt |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a common biopsychosocial health problem. Meditation may provide a complementary treatment option for LBP patients. Objectives: The aim of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to examine the effects of meditation on pain intensity, functional disability, quality of life, and depression in LBP populations. Methods: This systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA Guidelines. PubMed, Web of Science, CENTRAL, CamQuest and PubPsych were searched up to a publication date of June 2020. Inclusion criteria were RCTs or non-RCTs with LBP patients, aged at least 18 years, the application of a specific meditation technique, and pain intensity and/or functional disability as outcomes. Pooled SMDs were calculated at post-treatment and follow up. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool was used to estimate risk of bias. The overall quality of evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach. Results: 12 studies with a total of 1005 participants were included in this review. Compared to controls, meditation solely showed a significant positive effect on pain intensity (SMD = −0.27 [CI −0.43; −0.11]; p = 0.001; based on 10 studies with 934 participants) and physical quality of life (SMD = 0.21 [CI 0.07; 0.36]; p = 0.005; based on 5 studies with 756 participants) at post-treatment. At follow up (mean 20 weeks, range 4–52) there were no significant effects anymore. The quality of the evidence was moderate due to study limitations and imprecision. Conclusions: Meditation seems to be promising with regard to reducing short-term pain intensity in patients with LBP. However, additional well-designed and large trials are required in order to draw more reliable conclusions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T17:47:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3ace62476a22441a92c8442cbc62d7bc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0965-2299 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T17:47:23Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Complementary Therapies in Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-3ace62476a22441a92c8442cbc62d7bc2023-02-03T04:55:54ZengElsevierComplementary Therapies in Medicine0965-22992023-03-0172102924Effects of meditation on pain intensity, physical function, quality of life and depression in adults with low back pain – A systematic review with meta-analysisHelena Schmidt0Christian Pilat1Institute of Sports Science, Department of Exercise Physiology and Sports Therapy, Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, Kugelberg 62, 35394 Giessen, GermanyInstitute of Sports Science, Department of Exercise Physiology and Sports Therapy, Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, Kugelberg 62, 35394 Giessen, Germany; Correspondence to: Kugelberg 62, 35394 Gießen, Germany.Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a common biopsychosocial health problem. Meditation may provide a complementary treatment option for LBP patients. Objectives: The aim of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to examine the effects of meditation on pain intensity, functional disability, quality of life, and depression in LBP populations. Methods: This systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA Guidelines. PubMed, Web of Science, CENTRAL, CamQuest and PubPsych were searched up to a publication date of June 2020. Inclusion criteria were RCTs or non-RCTs with LBP patients, aged at least 18 years, the application of a specific meditation technique, and pain intensity and/or functional disability as outcomes. Pooled SMDs were calculated at post-treatment and follow up. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool was used to estimate risk of bias. The overall quality of evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach. Results: 12 studies with a total of 1005 participants were included in this review. Compared to controls, meditation solely showed a significant positive effect on pain intensity (SMD = −0.27 [CI −0.43; −0.11]; p = 0.001; based on 10 studies with 934 participants) and physical quality of life (SMD = 0.21 [CI 0.07; 0.36]; p = 0.005; based on 5 studies with 756 participants) at post-treatment. At follow up (mean 20 weeks, range 4–52) there were no significant effects anymore. The quality of the evidence was moderate due to study limitations and imprecision. Conclusions: Meditation seems to be promising with regard to reducing short-term pain intensity in patients with LBP. However, additional well-designed and large trials are required in order to draw more reliable conclusions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965229923000110MeditationMindfulnessChronic painLow back painPsychosomatic disorders |
| spellingShingle | Helena Schmidt Christian Pilat Effects of meditation on pain intensity, physical function, quality of life and depression in adults with low back pain – A systematic review with meta-analysis Complementary Therapies in Medicine Meditation Mindfulness Chronic pain Low back pain Psychosomatic disorders |
| title | Effects of meditation on pain intensity, physical function, quality of life and depression in adults with low back pain – A systematic review with meta-analysis |
| title_full | Effects of meditation on pain intensity, physical function, quality of life and depression in adults with low back pain – A systematic review with meta-analysis |
| title_fullStr | Effects of meditation on pain intensity, physical function, quality of life and depression in adults with low back pain – A systematic review with meta-analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of meditation on pain intensity, physical function, quality of life and depression in adults with low back pain – A systematic review with meta-analysis |
| title_short | Effects of meditation on pain intensity, physical function, quality of life and depression in adults with low back pain – A systematic review with meta-analysis |
| title_sort | effects of meditation on pain intensity physical function quality of life and depression in adults with low back pain a systematic review with meta analysis |
| topic | Meditation Mindfulness Chronic pain Low back pain Psychosomatic disorders |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965229923000110 |
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