Mindful meditation good for backache

A research suggests that mindful meditation bring about pain relief to those having chronic lower back pain.

The study involved nearly 300 adults with long-term lower back pain, half of whom were assigned to a two-month mindful meditation course.

Lead author of the study Dr Natalia Morone explained, ‘Mindfulness meditation is a method to learn how to be fully engaged in the present moment and not let the mind get so easily distracted.’ Morone added,  ‘As patients practiced mindfulness meditation and tried to stay more focused on the present moment, participants found they experienced less pain.’

Short-term benefits in physical function was also seen. More than half of adults older than 65 suffer from chronic pain, most commonly in the back. As side-effects of medicines are more common in elderly, many doctors and patients seek non-pharmaceutical treatments, said the researchers.

Morone suggested that a meditation program supplemented by exercise such as brisk walking might result in even greater and longer-lasting benefits.