Immediate Effects of a 10-minute Body Scan Meditation on People Who Has Central Sensitization

Immediate Effects of a 10-minute Body Scan Meditation on People Who Has Central Sensitization

For patients with chronic pain, how does a 10 minute guided body scan meditation affect pressure pain threshold and extent of pain on a body diagram?

Patients who present with central sensitization in physical therapy will go through a 10 minute body scan meditation. If patient meets criteria then they will fill out pre-intervention measures including hand dominance, gender identity, duration of pain, work status, pain body diagram, current pain level, previous medication and a neck disability index or an oswestry disability index.

Subject will then be asked what position they feel most comfortable to be led through this body scan meditation.

After the meditation, the participant will fill out another pain body diagram, current pain level, global rating of change and pain pressure threshold.

At this point the study is over and the subject will return to their physical therapy treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Subjects are from a convenience sample of patients seeking physical therapy care from a physician referral or direct-access to a privately owned physical therapy clinic English speaking
• Central Sensitization Inventory > 40
• Subject complains of disproportionate non mechanical unpredictable pattern of pain provocation in response to multiple non-specific aggravating/easing factors
• Pain disproportionate to the nature and extent of injury or pathology
• Strong association with maladaptive beliefs and pain behaviors
• Diffuse, nonanatomic areas of pain and tenderness on palpation

Exclusion Criteria:

• Does not meet the criteria above