Comparing Mindfulness-based Breath Training and Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback for Shoulder Surgery Patients in the Postoperative Pain.

Comparing Preoperative Mindfulness-based Breath Training and Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback for Shoulder Surgery Patients in the Postoperative Pain, Shoulder Function, Emotion, Sleep, Quality of Life, Cognitive Function, and Electroencephalography

Although shoulder surgeries can effectively relieve pain intensity and restore shoulder function, some patients reported persistent post-operative pain at the 6-month post-surgery follow-up visit. This randomized study aims to determine the effectiveness of three different types of bio-psychosocial support to pre-operative shoulder surgery patients. This study will examine the differential effects of brief mindfulness-based breathing, heart rate variability biofeedback (HRV-BF), and cognitive behavioral pain psychoeducation for pre-operative patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

shoulder pain patients with

• (1) pain ≥3months and ≥3 days per week
• (2) pain intensity ≥ 40 (VAS scale from 0 no pain to 100 very painful)
• (3) the surgical indication would be based on orthopedics opinions

Exclusion Criteria:

• history of shoulder surgery in the prior 3 years
• osteoporotic vertebral fractures or rheumatologic diseases
• chronic widespread pain syndromes (fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome)
• neurological disease (i.e., stroke, parkinson's disease, etc..)
• psychiatric disease (i.e., dementia, depression, schizophrenia, etc)
• cancer
• patients who practiced yoga, meditation, chi-qong, mindfulness, or deep breathing exercises more than three times per week