Adding Mindfulness Practice to Exercise Therapy for Female Recreational Runners With Patellofemoral Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether adding an 8-week mindfulness program to exercise therapy improved pain severity, knee function, fear of movement, and pain catastrophizing in female recreational runners with patellofemoral pain (PFP).
Results Summary
The mindfulness-exercise group showed reduced pain during running and stepping, improved knee function, lower pain catastrophizing, and better coping strategies compared to the exercise-only group. The mindfulness-exercise group also reported greater perceived treatment effects.
Population
Female recreational runners (age 28.3 ± 7.08 years) with patellofemoral pain (PFP).
Effective Dosage
8-week mindfulness intervention (frequency not specified) alongside an 18-week exercise protocol (3 sessions/week).
Duration
18 weeks (mindfulness component started 4 weeks before exercise, overlapping for 4 weeks).
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mindfulness-exercise program | decrease | pain during running | female recreational runners with patellofemoral pain (PFP) | - | were less for the mindfulness-exercise group than for the exercise-only group | #1 |
mindfulness-exercise program | decrease | pain during stepping | female recreational runners with patellofemoral pain (PFP) | - | were less for the mindfulness-exercise group than for the exercise-only group | #2 |
mindfulness-exercise program | decrease | functional limitations of the knee | female recreational runners with patellofemoral pain (PFP) | - | were less for the mindfulness-exercise group than for the exercise-only group | #3 |
mindfulness-exercise program | increase | perceived treatment effects | female recreational runners with patellofemoral pain (PFP) | - | reported greater perceived treatment effects than the exercise-only group | #4 |
mindfulness-exercise program | decrease | pain catastrophizing | female recreational runners with patellofemoral pain (PFP) | - | was less for mindfulness-exercise participants than for exercise-only participants | #5 |
mindfulness-exercise program | increase | coping strategies | female recreational runners with patellofemoral pain (PFP) | - | were more favorable for mindfulness-exercise participants than for exercise-only participants | #6 |
CONTEXT: Considering current models that highlight the role of psychological components in pain management, mindfulness practice may be an effective strategy in the management of pain. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of adding an 8-week mindfulness program to exercise therapy on the perceptions of pain severity, knee function, fear of movement, and pain catastrophizing of female recreational runners with patellofemoral pain (PFP). DESIGN: Randomized controlled clinical trial. SETTING: University laboratory. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Thirty female runners (age = 28.3 ± 7.08 years) with PFP were randomly assigned to the exercise or mindfulness-exercise group. INTERVENTION(S): The exercise-only group followed a protocol (18 weeks, 3 sessions/wk) that featured training modifications to help control injury-related symptoms. The mindfulness-exercise group received an 8-week mindfulness intervention in addition to the exercise protocol. The mindfulness component started 4 weeks before the exercise component; therefore, the 2 components overlapped during the first 4 weeks of the intervention. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Usual pain, pain during stepping, and pain during running were assessed using visual analog scales. Functional limitations of the knee were assessed using the Knee Outcome Survey. Fear of movement, pain catastrophizing, and coping strategies were measured via the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, the Pain Catastrophizing Scale, and the Coping Strategies Questionnaire, respectively. These outcomes were assessed at baseline, at week 9, and after 18 weeks. RESULTS: Pain during running, pain during stepping, and functional limitations of the knee were less for the mindfulness-exercise group than for the exercise-only group (P values < .05). The mindfulness-exercise group reported greater perceived treatment effects than the exercise-only group (P < .05). Pain catastrophizing was less and coping strategies were more favorable for mindfulness-exercise participants than for exercise-only participants (P values < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Mindfulness practice can be an effective adjunct to exercise therapy in the rehabilitation of PFP in recreational female runners.