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Role of Alternative Therapies for Chronic Pain Syndromes.

Current pain and headache reports
May 1, 2016
Donna-Ann Thomas et al. (6 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate the role of whole-body cryotherapy as a potential modality in the treatment of chronic pain syndromes.

Results Summary

The abstract notes that whole-body cryotherapy is a new modality requiring further studies, suggesting its efficacy is not yet well-established. No specific benefits or outcomes are detailed in the abstract.

Population

Chronic pain syndromes (general, no specific subgroup mentioned).

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (5)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
Cognitive behavior therapy
increase
treatment of chronic pain
patients with chronic pain syndromes
-
appears to be the most impactful
#1
Biofeedback therapy
increase
chronic pain
patients with chronic pain syndromes
-
has also been shown to be effective
#2
Exercise therapy
increase
pain states
patients with chronic pain syndromes
-
has been shown to be effective
#3
Acupuncture
increase
neck pain
-
-
has shown some benefit
#4
Acupuncture
increase
treatment of headaches
-
-
improvement has also been demonstrated
#5
Abstract

There is increasing interest in the use of complimentary and alternative medicine (CAM) for the treatment of chronic pain. This review examines alternative and complimentary therapies, which can be incorporated as part of a biopsychosocial approach in the treatment of chronic pain syndromes. In the present investigation, literature from articles indexed on PubMed was evaluated including topics of alternative therapies, complimentary therapies, pain psychology, biofeedback therapy, physical exercise therapies, acupuncture, natural and herbal supplements, whole-body cryotherapy, and smartphone technologies in the treatment of chronic pain syndromes. This review highlights the key role of psychology in the treatment of chronic pain. Cognitive behavior therapy appears to be the most impactful while biofeedback therapy has also been shown to be effective for chronic pain. Exercise therapy has been shown to be effective in short-, intermediate-, and long-term pain states. When compared to that in sham controls, acupuncture has shown some benefit for neck pain immediately after the procedure and in the short term and improvement has also been demonstrated in the treatment of headaches. The role of smartphones and whole-body cryotherapy are new modalities and further studies are needed. Recent literature suggests that several alternate therapies could play a role in the treatment of chronic pain, supporting the biopsychosocial model in the treatment of pain states.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Acupuncture TherapyBiofeedback, PsychologyChronic PainComplementary TherapiesHumansNeck PainPain Management
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy50/10
Quality70/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations30
Citations/Year3.3
Relative Citation Ratio1.72
NIH Percentile69.7%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score1.77
Normalized Score0.54
Related Supplements
Role of Alternative Therapies for Chronic Pain Syndromes. | Panacea Index