Meditation Reduces Pain Ratings and Sensitivity
Mindfulness meditation intervention may be helpful in reducing pain ratings and sensitivity, according to results of a study published in The Journal of Pain (March).
Mindfulness meditation intervention may be helpful in reducing pain ratings and sensitivity, according to results of a study published in
Researchers investigated the effects of brief mindlfulness meditation training on ratings of painful electrical stimulation, through a series of three experiments.
The first experiment utilized a 3-day, 20-minute mindfulness meditaion intervention and measured pain ratings before and after. The numerical ratings of pain in response to low and high electrical stimulation significantly decreased after meditation training.
Pain sensitivity also decreased.
In the second experiment, researchers investigated the effect of relaxation and a math distraction on the participants’ reporting of experimental pain. It was found that only the math distraction reduced high pain rating, but sensitivity of pain remained the same.
The third experiment compared the effects of meditation with math distraction and relaxation conditions. Mediation and math distraction had significant effects and there was also a decrease in pain sensitivity.
