Mindfulness for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Qualitative Analysis.
José G Luiggi-Hernandez1, Jean Woo2, Megan Hamm3
1Psychology Department, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Pain Medicine (Malden, Mass.)
|October 13, 2017
Summary
Older adults with chronic low back pain (cLBP) found mindfulness meditation helpful. Key themes included overcoming pain fear, increasing pain awareness, and reducing pain significance.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Pain Management
- Mind-Body Therapies
Background:
- Mindfulness is a nonpharmacologic mind-body therapy effective for chronic low back pain (cLBP) in older adults.
- Limited first-person accounts exist on older adults' experiences learning mindfulness for pain management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate dominant themes in older adults' experiences using mindfulness and meditation to cope with cLBP.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative analysis of four focus groups.
- Twenty-five adults aged 65+ who completed an 8-week mindfulness program participated.
- Thematic analysis was performed on transcribed focus group discussions.
Main Results:
- Older adults reported overcoming fear of pain.
- Participants described increased pain awareness.
- The significance of pain was reduced for many.
Conclusions:
- Mindfulness impacts older adults with cLBP by decreasing negative emotions like fear.
- It fosters a changed perspective and increased awareness of pain.
- Mindfulness practice can reduce the perceived significance of chronic pain.
