The effects of mindfulness training on persistent or intermittent sub-acute pain: using the Headspace^® application

Abstract

Background: Physiotherapists have recognised the benefits of incorporating psychological interventions in their treatments. This study sought to determine the usefulness of the Headspace^® application that provides mindfulness training via a smartphone on pain.

Methods: A quasi-experimental design was used and volunteers from a large metropolitan university who were coping with pain were encouraged to use the application for 6 weeks. Pain (severity and interference), self-reported mindfulness, usage of the application and participants perspectives of the application were examined.

Results: There was a significant reduction in pain severity (p = .01, r = 0.70) and pain interference (p = .00, r = 0.81) pre–post intervention. However, there was no significant change in self-reported mindfulness pre–post intervention (p = .67, r = 0.09). The usage of the application during the intervention period varied significantly (10–674 minutes) and was not significantly correlated with pain severity (two tailed) – pre (p = .65, r = 0.10), post (p = .43, r = 0.17) or pain interference (two tailed) pre (p = .75, r = 0.07), post (p = .32, r = 0.20). The participants reported positive perceptions of the application, such as it being useful in reducing pain and its convenience.

Conclusions: This study provides preliminary evidence to suggest that the Headspace^® application is beneficial in reducing Persistent or Intermittent sub-acute pain and the application could be a useful adjunct to physiotherapy interventions.

Keywords:

• Physiotherapy
• psychological interventions
• pain
• smartphone application
• MIndfulness

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to say a special thank you to Headspace^® for allowing us to use the application and for retrieving and sending the time usage data to us. Also, thank you to those who volunteered to participate in the study.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.