Mindfulness-based Interventions for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aimed to compile existing evidence examining the effects of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) for chronic low back pain (CLBP). CLBP leads to millions of disabled individuals in the United States each year. Current pharmacologic treatments are only modestly effective and may present long-term safety issues. MBIs, which have an excellent safety profile, have been shown in prior studies to be effective in treating CLBP yet remained underutilized. DESIGN: Ovid/Medline, PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), pilot RCTs, and single-arm studies that explored the effectiveness of MBIs in CLBP. METHODS: Separate searches were conducted to identify trials that evaluated MBIs in reducing pain intensity in individuals with CLBP. A meta-analysis was then performed using R v3.2.2, Metafor package v 1.9-7. RESULTS: Eighteen studies used validated patient-reported pain outcome measures and were therefore included in the meta-analysis. The MBIs included mindfulness meditation, mindfulness-based stress reduction, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, mindfulness-oriented recovery enhancement, acceptance and commitment therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, meditation-cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based care for chronic pain, self-compassion course, and loving-kindness course. Pain intensity scores were reported using a numerical rating scale (0 to 10) or an equivalent scale. The meta-analysis revealed that MBIs have a beneficial effect on pain intensity with a large-sized effect in adults with CLBP. CONCLUSIONS: MBIs seem to be beneficial in reducing pain intensity. Although these results were informative, findings should be carefully interpreted due to the limited data the high variability in study methodologies, small sample sizes, inclusion of studies with high risk of bias, and reliance on pre-post treatment differences with no attention to maintenance of effects. More large-scale RCTs are needed to provide reliable effect size estimates for MBIs in persons with CLBP.

Change in Pain During Physical Activity Following Total Knee Arthroplasty: Associations With Improved Physical Function and Decreased Situational Pain Catastrophizing.

Background and Objectives: Knee osteoarthritis is one of the primary causes of chronic pain among older adults and because of the aging population, the number of total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) performed is exponentially increasing. While pain reduction is a goal of TKA, movement-evoked pain is rarely assessed pre- and post-TKA. We characterized the distributions of change in pain, function, and situational catastrophizing in patients from presurgery to 3 months postsurgery and explored associations among these pre-post changes. Research Design and Methods: This prospective study longitudinally assessed movement-evoked pain, function, and situational catastrophizing in patients with knee osteoarthritis (N = 92) using in-person performance-based tests (6-min walk test [6MWT], stair-climb test [SCT]) prior to and 3 months after TKA. Patients also completed the Western Ontario McMaster Universities Scales (WOMAC) pain and function subscales, and Pain Catastrophizing Scale, presurgery and 3- and 6-months postsurgery. Results: Movement-evoked pain and function on performance tests significantly improved from pre- to post-TKA. Improved SCT function was associated with reduced SCT pain and catastrophizing. Similarly, reduced pain during the SCT was associated with reduced catastrophizing during the SCT. However, 6MWT function was not associated with 6MWT pain or catastrophizing; yet reduced pain during the 6MWT was associated with reduced catastrophizing during the 6MWT. Reduced movement-evoked pain during both performance tests was consistently associated with improved WOMAC function and pain, whereas improved function on performance tests was inconsistently associated with WOMAC function and pain. Notably, greater movement-evoked pain on both performance tests at 3-month post-TKA was associated with worse WOMAC function and pain at 6 months, whereas better function on performance tests at 3 months was associated with better WOMAC function, but not related to WOMAC pain at 6 months. Discussion and Implications: Findings highlight the importance of situation-specific and in vivo assessments of pain and catastrophizing during physical activity.

The mediating effect of social functioning on the relationship between catastrophizing and pain among patients with chronic low back pain.

OBJECTIVE: Pain catastrophizing can be characterized as an interpersonal form of coping used to elicit support or empathy from others. Despite intentions of increasing support, catastrophizing can impair social functioning. While considerable work has addressed the relationship between catastrophizing and pain, limited empirical work has examined this relationship within a social context. First, we examined the role of catastrophizing as a potential contributor to group differences (chronic low back pain [cLBP] vs pain-free controls) in social functioning. Then we conducted a follow-up, exploratory analysis to examine the relationships between catastrophizing, social functioning, and pain within the subgroup of participants with cLBP. METHODS: In this observational study, participants with cLBP (N = 62) and pain-free controls (N = 79) completed validated measures of pain, social functioning, and pain catastrophizing. A mediation analysis was conducted to examine whether catastrophizing mediated group differences (cLBP vs controls) in social functioning. A follow-up, exploratory mediation analysis then tested whether social functioning mediated the association between catastrophizing and pain within the subgroup of cLBP participants. RESULTS: Participants with cLBP reported higher levels of pain, impaired social functioning, and higher catastrophizing compared to pain-free controls. Catastrophizing partially mediated the group difference in impaired social functioning. Additionally, social functioning mediated the association between higher catastrophizing and greater pain within the subgroup of cLBP participants. CONCLUSIONS: We showed that impaired social functioning was driving the relationship between higher pain catastrophizing and worse pain among participants with cLBP. Interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, should address catastrophizing in individuals with cLBP, while simultaneously improving social functioning.

Let's Get Physical! A Comprehensive Review of Pre- and Post-Surgical Interventions Targeting Physical Activity to Improve Pain and Functional Outcomes in Spine Surgery Patients.

The goal of this comprehensive review was to synthesize the recent literature on the efficacy of perioperative interventions targeting physical activity to improve pain and functional outcomes in spine surgery patients. Overall, research in this area does not yet permit definitive conclusions. Some evidence suggests that post-surgical interventions may yield more robust long-term outcomes than preoperative interventions, including large effect sizes for disability reduction, although there are no studies directly comparing these surgical approaches. Integrated treatment approaches that include psychosocial intervention components may supplement exercise programs by addressing fear avoidance behaviors that interfere with engagement in activity, thereby maximizing the short- and long-term benefits of exercise. Efforts should be made to test brief, efficient programs that maximize accessibility for surgical patients. Future work in this area should include both subjective and objective indices of physical activity as well as investigating both acute postoperative outcomes and long-term outcomes.