A single case study investigating the effects of mindfulness on mechanical neck pain and quality of life.
Item
- Title
- A single case study investigating the effects of mindfulness on mechanical neck pain and quality of life.
- Author(s)
- McCormack S
- Abstract
- Background: Mechanical neck pain is common presentation amongst the general population; its characterized as persistent pain in the neck with no underlying pathology that's often idiopathic in nature. However, research has shown that psychosocial stresses may be a contributing factor to the symptoms experienced. Mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy has been widely used as treatment for psychological conditions and has shown to be inconclusive on to whether it influences the pain in patients suffering with mechanical neck pain. Objective: To investigate the potential effects of mindfulness on mechanical neck pain and quality of life, with consideration to secondary effects of quality of life on neck pain. Design: ABAB single case study research design Methods: A participant with mechanical neck pain was recruited within the European School of Osteopathy of Osteopathy student population. A daily pressure pain threshold, and verbal rating scale of pain were recorded 5 times a week, with an assessment of quality of life questionnaire (AQoL-8D) recorded three times a week. The study lasted 8 weeks, baseline observations captured for two weeks (phase Al ), followed by two weeks of the intervention (phase Bl ) which consisted of a 3-minute mindfulness exercise administered three times a week; then a two-week withdrawal period (phase A2)followed by a two week repeat (phase B2). Results: Pressure Pain Threshold showed significant improvement post intervention showing a 21.5% increase from phase A1-B2 with a significant P values between phases A1-A2 (p=0.0007) and A1-B2 (p=0.0313). The VRS showed a 24.2% increase from A1-B2, although there was no significant P value (p=0.0625). The AQoL-8D scores over all did not improve, there was an overall 13.18% decrease in the participant's quality of life with significant decreases in the relationship (p=0.0051) and coping (p=0.01 42) dimensions. Discussion: There are implications that mindfulness wasn't a valid treatment intervention for the participant involved in regards to whom mindfulness-based stress reduction treatments are aimed towards, which are usually those with presenting mental health conditions. However, mindfulness proved to have a significant positive effect on reducing pressure pain threshold, but not necessarily on quality of life. Conclusion: The conclusions this study has made about the effects of mindfulness on mechanical neck pain and quality of life without disregarding the limitations that the study presents with, is that mindfulness has a significant positive long lasting effect on pain tolerance. There was inconclusive data into whether the changes that occurred in the quality of life was due to the intervention of mindfulness or confounding participant variables. Further research into this matter on a larger scale with more research groups, including those with mental health conditions would be needed for a solid conclusion to be made.
- presented at
- European School of Osteopathy
- Date Accepted
- 2017
- Date Submitted
- 4.12.2017 17:06:21
- Type
- osteo_thesis
- Language
- English
- Submitted by:
- 62
- Pub-Identifier
- 16049
- Inst-Identifier
- 1229
- Keywords
- Mindfulness, Assessment of quality of life, Algometry, Mechanical neck pain
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
McCormack S, “A single case study investigating the effects of mindfulness on mechanical neck pain and quality of life.”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 2, 2024, https://www.osteopathic-research.com/s/orw/item/487