Original ArticleMeditation-Based Treatment Yielding Immediate Relief for Meditation-Naïve Migraineurs
Section snippets
Participants
All procedures within this study were approved by the Institutional Review Board of the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Data were collected as part of a larger study on migraine headaches. Meditation-naïve participants (n = 27) aged 26-71 years (mean 45.5 y, SD 11.10 y; 68% female; 82% European, 4% Native American, 18% Asian) were recruited from the general population or referred by the physicians treating their migraine. In the sample, 37% had only a high school education, 52%
Results
Correlation analyses yielded a strong association between baseline levels of pain and emotional tension (R2 = 0.34; p < .01). After practicing 20 minutes of meditation, there was a significant decline from pre- to posttreatment in both reported pain (t(26) = 5.23; p < .001) and emotional tension (t(26) = 5.47; p < .001) ratings (Fig. 1). After meditation, both reported pain levels (mean 2.62, SD 1.713) and reported emotional tension levels (mean 2.27, SD 2.187) decreased. Thirty-seven percent
Discussion
Based on the limited results, Buddhist Loving Kindness mediation offered effective immediate relief from migraine symptoms experienced by this group of frequent migraneurs. The intervention also yielded a significant decrease in levels of reported emotional tension, which the data suggest is moderately correlated with migraine-related pain, such that tension accounts for 34% of the variance in pain scores. In the present study, meditation-naïve migraine sufferers reported 33% less pain and 43%
Conclusion
Although this study had limited power with a small sample size, the large effect size resulted in identifiable changes and can serve as a basis for estimating effect sizes for future studies. Although the exact physiologic etiology of these changes is unknown, this study ultimately found what it sought out to explore: an effective, quick, and portable means of reducing pain and emotional tension. Not only can migraineurs use this technique in any setting, but they can use it as an alternative
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2021, Complementary Therapies in MedicineCitation Excerpt :These changes can be noted with just a few hours of training.19 Individual studies indicate that even short LKM sessions (7−20 min) can effectively decrease anxiety and pain and improve self-compassion,16,20,21,22,23. 24 Most recently, a randomized control pilot study of breast cancer biopsy patients found that performing LKM up to 20 min daily led to considerable reductions in pain as well as improvements in self-compassion and heart rate during the diagnostic and surgical period in comparison with control conditions.24
The Integrative Migraine Pain Alleviation through Chiropractic Therapy (IMPACT) trial: Study rationale, design and intervention validation
2020, Contemporary Clinical Trials CommunicationsCitation Excerpt :First, studies show that combining spinal manipulation with neck strengthening exercises is more beneficial to patients with chronic neck pain than the use of spinal manipulation or exercise alone [12,13]. Second, multiple individual therapies commonly included in multimodal chiropractic care including soft tissue massage, exercise, and mind-body training techniques (e.g. mindfulness and breath awareness) independently show promise in reducing migraine frequency and associated symptoms [14–18]. All of these treatment approaches are included in standard chiropractic education and are within the scope of practice for chiropractors.
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2019, Complementary Therapies in MedicineCitation Excerpt :Meditation is also emerging as an efficient preventative therapy for individuals who suffer from chronic pain and stress.24,25 Meditation, one form of cognitive control, has proven effective in reducing physiological and psychological arousal to stress.21 However, it appears that the daily practice of multiple types of meditation may help alleviate psychological and physical symptoms of migraine headaches.26,27 Meditation practice has been associated with improved pain and decreased migraine headaches frequency in previous studies.21,25,26,27
Supported by the University of Massachusetts Medical School Psychiatry Department through a Faculty Development Grant.