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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2022 Nov 9;17(11):e0276734.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276734. eCollection 2022.

The effect of mindfulness on the inflammatory, psychological and biomechanical domains of adult patients with low back pain: A randomized controlled clinical trial

Gustavo G Diez  1   2 , Eduardo Anitua  3   4 , Nazareth Castellanos  1 , Carmelo Vázquez  5 , Purificación Galindo-Villardón  6 , Mohammad H Alkhraisat  3   4
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

The effect of mindfulness on the inflammatory, psychological and biomechanical domains of adult patients with low back pain: A randomized controlled clinical trial

Gustavo G Diez et al. PLoS One. .

Erratum in

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to study the effect of mindfulness-based program on the psychological, biomechanical and inflammatory domains of patients with chronic low back pain.

Methods: A multicentre randomized and controlled clinical trial of parallel groups in patients with chronic low back pain between March 2019 to March 2020. Participants with no experience in mindfulness based intervention, were randomized to receive (36 patients) or not (34 patients) mindfulness-based stress reduction program for chronic back pain (MBSR-CBP). The program was performed in 9 sessions. Patients with chronic low back pain due to symptomatic discopathy (degenerative disc disease or herniated disc) were included. The principal outcome was changes in the blood level of cortisol and cytokines (tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF- α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-17 (IL-17)). Secondary outcomes (psychological factors, pain, and quality of life) were measured by validated questionnaires.

Results: Of the 96 randomized patients, 70 who completed the study were included in the analysis (mean [range] age: 53 [33-73] years; 66% females). MBSR-CBP stopped the increase in cortisol, and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β (p = 0.05). It reduced depression (p = 0.046) and stress (p = 0.0438), perceived pain (p < 0.0001), and limitations related to health (p < 0.0001). It also increased the physical function (p = 0.002) and sleep quality (p = 0.05). Furthermore, it significantly increased life satisfaction (0.006), well-being (p = 0.001) and vitality (p < 0.0001). It also increased self-compassion (p < 0.0001) and significantly reduced the overidentification (p<0.0001) and catastrophization (p = 0.002).

Conclusions: MBSR-CBP could be part of a multidisciplinary approach in the management of patients suffering from chronic low back pain.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. Outside the submitted work, Dr. Alkhraisat and Dr. Anitua are researchers at BTI Biotechnology Institute.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Study flow chart.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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