Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 25, 2025
Back Mechanical Sensitivity Assessment in the Rat for Mechanistic Investigation of Chronic Back Pain
Published on: August 30, 2022
The Effects of Brief Guided Imagery on Patients Suffering From Chronic Back Pain: An A-B Design Study
Anat Kaplun1, Svetlana Trosman2, Tatiana Reitblat2
1Department of Physical Therapy, Recanati School for Community Health Professions, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
Background:
Guided imagery (GI) is a non-pharmacological method used to reduce pain, stress, and anxiety.
Aims:
This study aimed to evaluate the impact of brief GI on symptoms of chronic back pain in adults treated in the Rheumatology clinic.
Design:
A-B design study.
Settings & Participants:
A sample of 35 women with chronic back pain were recruited at the Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic of Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon, Israel.
Methods:
All subjects completed questionnaires at recruitment (T1), and after 8-10 weeks, they completed questionnaires again before the first intervention (T2). The intervention included five brief GI group meetings every 2-3 weeks, one hour each (3-5 subjects per group). Participants learned 6 GI exercises and were asked to practice brief guided imagery exercises at least once daily. Then, questionnaires were completed the third time (T3).
Outcome Measures:
MOQ - Modified Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire, STAI - State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, FABQ - Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire, NPRS - Numerical Pain Rating Scale (average pain over the last week).
Results:
Compared with the period without intervention, NPRS (Δ = 2.53, standard error [SE] = 0.43, p < .001), STAI (Δ = 8.41, SE = 1.95, p < .001), and MOQ (Δ = 0.06, SE = 0.02, p = .019) reported significantly lower levels after brief guided imagery training. However, no statistically significant change was found in FABQ.
Conclusions:
The brief guided imagery intervention may help alleviate chronic back pain, help decrease anxiety, and improve daily activity in women who suffer from chronic low back pain.
