The effects of a 10-minute meditation exercise on pressure pain threshold and pain perception of myofascial trigger points in student naïve meditators.
Item
- Title
- The effects of a 10-minute meditation exercise on pressure pain threshold and pain perception of myofascial trigger points in student naïve meditators.
- Author(s)
- Ytier, S
- Abstract
- Background There is good evidence of efficacy in multidisciplinary biopsychosocial approaches in treating pain (Healy et al. 2015). As a result, manual therapy tends to be more and more included within mindfulness based packages, especially for treating chronic pain patients. Some physiological benefits from long term practice can be replicated after a single short session in beginner participants, including analgesia. There is however a lack of research regarding the impact of the technique on myofascial trigger points (MTrPs). Objective The objective of the randomised controlled trial was to answer the research question: can a short period of mindfulness meditation reduce pressure pain threshold (PPT) and pain perception (PP) of upper trapezius MTrPs in student naïve meditators? Design Independent measures, randomised controlled experiment. Methods Fifty European School of Osteopathy students were recruited. Exclusion criteria were lack of consent, previous experience with meditation, pathology affecting PPT or PP, current use of analgesic medication, abnormal pain during the examination process. After randomisation into two groups (meditation versus control), baseline characteristics were recorded using an algometer device on upper trapezius MTrPs and a visual analogue scale. The meditation group listened to a therapist-free, guided, 10-minute meditation audio file. The control group sat in a chair. Post intervention readings were gathered following the same process as before. Results There was a larger increase in PPT in the meditation group from baseline relative to control (0.259 versus 0.152) and a significant difference between the groups (p=0.036). Interestingly means were slightly higher in the control group. There was a significant decrease in PP in both groups, but no significant difference between groups (p=0.382). Interestingly the means were slightly lower in the control group. Discussion The results suggest that possible pre-treatment anxiety due to lack of meditation expertise lead to decreased baseline PPT and PP in the meditation group. However, outcome measures significantly improved after intervention. PP was not significantly changed by the type of intervention received. Conclusion Supporting the idea of a multidisciplinary biopsychosocial approach in treating pain, the results suggest a single, therapist-free 10-minute mindfulness meditation can raise pressure pain threshold in upper trapezius MTrPs in beginner meditators.
- presented at
- European School of Osteopathy
- Date Accepted
- 2018
- Date Submitted
- 25.1.2019 17:18:26
- Type
- osteo_thesis
- Language
- English
- Submitted by:
- 62
- Pub-Identifier
- 16415
- Inst-Identifier
- 1229
- Keywords
- Mindfulness meditation, Myofascial trigger point, pressure pain threshold, pain perception
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Ytier, S, “The effects of a 10-minute meditation exercise on pressure pain threshold and pain perception of myofascial trigger points in student naïve meditators.”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 4, 2025, https://www.osteopathicresearch.org/s/orw/item/349