Immediate Effects of a Brief 10-Minute Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Body Scan for Central Sensitization: A Case Series

Introduction: Chronic pain is often challenging to treat due to changes associated with central sensitization.Mindfulness practices have been shown to impact pain through a non-judgmental appraisal of physical sensations.This case series aimed to determine if a 10-minute body scan meditation would positively impact a person who suffers from central sensitization.Materials and Methods: Sixteen participants were guided through a 10-minute body scan meditation.Pre-and post-treatment measures included self-reported pain rating, pain pressure threshold, and a body pain diagram.The global rate of change was also assessed following treatment.Results: Overall, self-reported pain was reduced by 0.9 points (p=0.001).Body pain diagrams reduced 46.9% after mindfulness-based stress reduction.Changes in pain pressure threshold and the global rate of change improved but were not statistically significant.Overall, patients with low back pain responded far more favorably than patients with neck pain.Positive correlations were found with improvements in self-reported pain rating, pain pressure threshold, and the global rate of change related to the extent of pain on the body pain diagram. Conclusion:A brief body scan meditation is able to positively influence body pain diagrams, which are correlated to a pain experience.The brief body scan meditation had a larger influence on patients with low back pain than neck pain.More research is needed to explore how a non-tactile, non-threatening treatment can alter pain experiences including sensitivity of the nervous system.