Decreasing osteoarthritis pain. A psychological case report with follow-up data

Biofeedback, progressive muscle training, and relaxation tape home practice were implemented in an attempt to decrease knee pain in a subject diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Pain journal data suggested that the subject's pain levels decreased significantly during training and for 2 years posttraining. Training session data suggested that the subject was able to increase her skin temperature at the site of her pain. One possible explanation for these changes was the home practice of her relaxation tape, as increased practice was inversely related to decreased pain. This clinical case report provided some preliminary information on the potential efficacy of psychological procedures in osteoarthritis pain management.