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Zhang Y, Wu B, Qin P, Cheng Y, Chen Y. Alternative therapies in chronic non-cancer pain management: A scoping review of randomized controlled trials. Complement Ther Med 2025; 90:103154. [PMID: 40081508 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2025] [Revised: 02/10/2025] [Accepted: 03/04/2025] [Indexed: 03/16/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic pain is one of the most challenging health problems in modern society, placing significant burdens on individuals and healthcare systems. While pharmacological treatments remain the primary approach to pain management, their limitations often restrict choices for both clinicians and patients. In contrast, complementary therapies are gaining recognition for their potential effectiveness and safety. However, the current literature lacks a comprehensive summary of the role of complementary therapies in chronic pain management. OBJECTIVE This review aims to summarize the complementary therapies used in chronic non-cancer pain management, assess their practical applications, identify research gaps and limitations, and provide a comprehensive perspective for the development of chronic non-cancer pain management and personalized pain management strategies. METHODS This scoping review followed the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in the last decade were retrieved from PubMed and Web of Science using the keywords "chronic pain" and "complementary therapy." Non-English studies were excluded. RESULTS A total of 848 RCTs were identified, of which 128 met the inclusion criteria. The included studies addressed chronic musculoskeletal pain (102 studies), chronic visceral pain (5 studies), chronic neuropathic pain (7 studies), and 13 studies that did not specify the pain type. The complementary therapies investigated included acupuncture, manual therapy, exercise therapy, psychological interventions, mind-body therapies, and physical modalities. CONCLUSION This review provides preliminary evidence supporting the efficacy and safety of complementary therapies in the management of chronic non-cancer pain. However, methodological and quality-related limitations were identified in the included studies. Future high-quality RCTs are needed to validate the long-term efficacy of these therapies, explore their mechanisms of action, and provide stronger evidence for their clinical application. REGISTRATION This scoping review is registered on the Open Science Framework (OSF) under the following DOI: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/67K32.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxing Zhang
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine/National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin 300381, China; Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China
| | - Bangqi Wu
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine/National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin 300381, China.
| | - Peng Qin
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine/National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin 300381, China
| | - Yupei Cheng
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine/National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin 300381, China; Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China
| | - Yuyan Chen
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine/National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin 300381, China; Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China
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Sherman RA, Evans CB. A Clinical Consult to Explain the Biofeedback Process. Pain Manag Nurs 2025; 26:40-44. [PMID: 39609225 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmn.2024.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2024] [Revised: 10/13/2024] [Accepted: 10/14/2024] [Indexed: 11/30/2024]
Abstract
CLINICAL ISSUE Psychophysiological assessments and biofeedback-based interventions for chronic for chronic pain can be highly effective. The purpose of this clinical consultation was to provide an overview of the psychophysiological assessment process and present a primer on biofeedback for chronic pain. The biofeedback process was presented by a biofeedback content expert, with photos and diagrams. PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS Nurses advocate for non-pharmacological pain interventions. However, biofeedback is a practice that has been overlooked and underutilized in nursing. This clinical consultation is meant to educate clinical nurses on psychophysiological assessment and biofeedback for chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard A Sherman
- Department of Psychophysiology, College of Integrative Medicine and Health Sciences, Saybrook University, Pasadena, CA; Behavioral Medicine Research and Training Foundation, Port Angeles, WA
| | - Cecile B Evans
- Intermountain Health, Peaks Region, St. Mary's Regional Hospital, Grand Junction, CO.
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Gordon CM, Dugan V, Hörmann C, Montoya P. Interdisciplinary Fascia Therapy: A Proof-of-Concept Pilot Study for a New Myofascial Approach for Chronic Low Back Pain. J Clin Med 2024; 13:7226. [PMID: 39685685 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13237226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2024] [Revised: 11/19/2024] [Accepted: 11/21/2024] [Indexed: 12/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is highly prevalent and relevant in all medical fields. This study evaluated the safety and effectiveness of interdisciplinary fascia therapy (IFT) for CLBP, focusing on its potential to reduce pain intensity, disability, and regulate autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity. Methods: Nine participants with CLBP each underwent nine sessions of IFT, twice weekly. The intervention involved a 12-grip manual sequence targeting deep paravertebral myofascial structures, complemented by heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback training twice daily for 15 min. Pain and quality-of-life measures were assessed using the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) questionnaire at baseline, mid-treatment (4th session), and post-treatment (9th session). HRV metrics were monitored with a 24 h ECG Holter device before and after the treatment period. Statistical analyses included paired t-tests, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, and Cohen's d for effect size. Results: Significant reductions in pain levels were observed across all subjective BPI measures, including momentary, strongest, minimal, and average pain scores (p < 0.001), with 83% and 87% reductions in pain intensity and disability, respectively. Quality-of-life indicators such as mood, sleep, and enjoyment of life showed significant improvements (p < 0.001). While only one HRV metric (rMSSD) achieved statistical significance, other HRV measures indicated medium to large effect sizes, suggesting favorable trends in ANS regulation. Conclusions: IFT demonstrated significant effects on subjective BPI pain reduction and quality of life, alongside potential regulatory impacts on ANS activity in individuals with CLBP. These results support the use of IFT as an effective intervention for pain management in CLBP and ANS regulation, meriting further exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M Gordon
- CIT Research Institute, 70597 Stuttgart, Germany
- Fascia Research Group, Division of Neurophysiology, University of Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | | | | | - Pedro Montoya
- Research Institute of Health Sciences (IUNICS), University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
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Thoen A, Alaerts K, Prinsen J, Steyaert J, Van Damme T. The Physiological and Clinical-Behavioral Effects of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback in Adolescents with Autism: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback 2024; 49:419-438. [PMID: 38491260 DOI: 10.1007/s10484-024-09638-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Adolescents with autism present lower levels of cardiac vagal modulation. It was hypothesized that Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback (HRVB) increases cardiac vagal modulation in adolescents with autism, resulting in positive effects on physiological and psychosocial parameters. It was also hypothesized that home-based HRVB training is feasible. In a single-blind, randomized sham-controlled pilot trial, adolescents with autism performed supervised HRVB (n = 24) or sham training (n = 20). Subsequently, half of the adolescents received HRVB training at home, whereas the other subset did not practice. Physiological, cortisol and behavioral data were collected during stress-provoking assessments before and after each training period. Supervised HRVB resulted in a late increase in cardiac vagal modulation in adolescents with autism. Heart rate increased and cortisol decreased significantly immediately after supervised HRVB, but none of these effects remained after follow-up. Following supervised HRVB, no significant change in psychosocial functioning was found. Home-based HRVB was feasible, adolescents reported lower symptoms of stress, but a significant decrease in compliance rate was found. HRVB is feasible and effective in adolescents with autism given the late-emerging increases in cardiac vagal modulation and decrease in stress symptoms. Replicating this study with a larger sample and further exploration of the working mechanisms of HRVB are recommended. ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT04628715.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anoushka Thoen
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Research Group for Adapted Physical Activity and Psychomotor Rehabilitation, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49 - box 1510, Leuven, 3000, Belgium.
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium.
| | - Kaat Alaerts
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Neuromotor Rehabilitation Research Group, KU Leuven, Tervuursevest 101 - box 1501, Leuven, 3001, Belgium
| | - Jellina Prinsen
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Neuromotor Rehabilitation Research Group, KU Leuven, Tervuursevest 101 - box 1501, Leuven, 3001, Belgium
| | - Jean Steyaert
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
- Department of Child Psychiatry, UPC KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
- Department of Neurosciences, Research Group of Developmental Psychiatry, KU Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 7h - box 7001, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Tine Van Damme
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Research Group for Adapted Physical Activity and Psychomotor Rehabilitation, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49 - box 1510, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
- Department of Child Psychiatry, UPC KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
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Orgil Z, Heisterberg LM, Froass D, Karthic A, Williams SE, Ding L, Kashikar-Zuck S, King CD, Olbrecht VA. The need for a true biofeedback-based virtual reality system for achievement of target heart rate variability for children undergoing surgery. Paediatr Anaesth 2024; 34:577-579. [PMID: 38567441 DOI: 10.1111/pan.14887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Zandantsetseg Orgil
- Department of Clinical Research Services, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Lisa M Heisterberg
- School of Medicine, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Dillon Froass
- School of Medicine, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Anitra Karthic
- School of Medicine, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Sara E Williams
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Lili Ding
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Susmita Kashikar-Zuck
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Pediatric Pain Research Center, Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Christopher D King
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Pediatric Pain Research Center, Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Vanessa A Olbrecht
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Nemours Children's Health, Wilmington, Delaware, USA
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Cerda IH, Therond A, Moreau S, Studer K, Donjow AR, Crowther JE, Mazzolenis ME, Lang M, Tolba R, Gilligan C, Ashina S, Kaye AD, Yong RJ, Schatman ME, Robinson CL. Telehealth and Virtual Reality Technologies in Chronic Pain Management: A Narrative Review. Curr Pain Headache Rep 2024; 28:83-94. [PMID: 38175490 DOI: 10.1007/s11916-023-01205-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review provides medical practitioners with an overview of the present and emergent roles of telehealth and associated virtual reality (VR) applications in chronic pain (CP) management, particularly in the post-COVID-19 healthcare landscape. RECENT FINDINGS Accumulated evidence points to the efficacy of now well-established telehealth modalities, such as videoconferencing, short messaging service (SMS), and mobile health (mHealth) applications in complementing remote CP care. More recently, and although still in early phases of clinical implementation, a wide range of VR-based interventions have demonstrated potential for improving the asynchronous remote management of CP. Additionally, VR-associated technologies at the leading edge of science and engineering, such as VR-assisted biofeedback, haptic technology, high-definition three-dimensional (HD3D) conferencing, VR-enabled interactions in a Metaverse, and the use of wearable monitoring devices, herald a new era for remote, synchronous patient-physician interactions. These advancements hold the potential to facilitate remote physical examinations, personalized remote care, and innovative interventions such as ultra-realistic biofeedback. Despite the promise of VR-associated technologies, several limitations remain, including the paucity of robust long-term effectiveness data, heterogeneity of reported pain-related outcomes, challenges with scalability and insurance coverage, and demographic-specific barriers to patient acceptability. Future research efforts should be directed toward mitigating these limitations to facilitate the integration of telehealth-associated VR into the conventional management of CP. Despite ongoing barriers to widespread adoption, recent evidence suggests that VR-based interventions hold an increasing potential to complement and enhance the remote delivery of CP care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivo H Cerda
- Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Alexandra Therond
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Sacha Moreau
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kachina Studer
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department Mechanical Engineering, Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Jason E Crowther
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Massachusetts, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Maria Emilia Mazzolenis
- Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, John A, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Min Lang
- Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Reda Tolba
- Pain Management Department in the Anesthesiology Institute, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Christopher Gilligan
- Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sait Ashina
- Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alan D Kaye
- Department of Anesthesiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, USA
| | - R Jason Yong
- Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael E Schatman
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Care, and Pain Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Population Health-Division of Medical Ethics, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christopher L Robinson
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
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Li J, Yang H, Xiao Y, Liu X, Ma B, Ma K, Hu L, Lu X. The analgesic effects and neural oscillatory mechanisms of virtual reality scenes based on distraction and mindfulness strategies in human volunteers. Br J Anaesth 2023; 131:1082-1092. [PMID: 37798154 DOI: 10.1016/j.bja.2023.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Virtual reality (VR) has been widely used as a non-pharmacological adjunct to pain management. However, there is no consensus on what type of VR content is the best for pain alleviation and by what means VR modulates pain perception. We used three experiments to explore the analgesic effect of VR scenes in healthy adult volunteers. METHODS We first compared the effect of immersive VR on pain perception with active (i.e. non-immersive, two-dimensional video) and passive (i.e. no VR or audiovisual input) controls at both subjective perceptual (Experiment 1) and electrophysiological (electroencephalography) levels (Experiment 2), and then explored possible analgesic mechanisms responsible for VR scenes conveying different strategies (e.g. exploration or mindfulness; Experiment 3). RESULTS The multisensory experience of the VR environment lowered pain intensity and unpleasantness induced by contact heat stimuli when compared with two control conditions (P=0.001 and P<0.001, respectively). The reduced pain intensity rating correlated with decreased P2 amplitude (r=0.433, P<0.001) and increased pre-stimulus spontaneous gamma oscillations (r=-0.339, P=0.004) by 32-channel electroencephalography. A VR exploration scene induced a strong sense of immersion that was associated with increased pre-stimulus gamma oscillations (r=0.529, P<0.001), whereas a VR mindfulness meditation scene had a minor effect on immersive feelings but induced strong pre-stimulus alpha oscillations (r=-0.550, P<0.001), which led to a comparable analgesic effect. CONCLUSIONS Distinct neural mechanisms are responsible for VR-induced analgesia, deepening our understanding of the analgesic benefits of VR and its neural electrophysiological correlates. These findings support further development of digital healthcare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingwei Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Haoyu Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yian Xiao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China
| | - Xu Liu
- Research Center of Brain and Cognitive Neuroscience, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, China
| | - Bingjie Ma
- Department of Pain Management, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ke Ma
- Department of Pain Management, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Li Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xuejing Lu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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Cuneo A, Yang R, Zhou H, Wang K, Goh S, Wang Y, Raiti J, Krashin D, Murinova N. The Utility of a Novel, Combined Biofeedback-Virtual Reality Device as Add-on Treatment for Chronic Migraine: A Randomized Pilot Study. Clin J Pain 2023; 39:286-296. [PMID: 37026763 DOI: 10.1097/ajp.0000000000001114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To determine if the frequent use of a combined biofeedback-virtual reality device improves headache-related outcomes in chronic migraine. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this randomized, controlled pilot study, 50 adults with chronic migraine were randomized to the experimental group (frequent use of a heart rate variability biofeedback-virtual reality device plus standard medical care; n=25) or wait-list control group (standard medical care alone; n=25). The primary outcome was a reduction in mean monthly headache days between groups at 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes included mean change in acute analgesic use frequency, depression, migraine-related disability, stress, insomnia, and catastrophizing between groups at 12 weeks. Tertiary outcomes included change in heart rate variability and device-related user experience measures. RESULTS A statistically significant reduction in mean monthly headache days between groups was not demonstrated at 12 weeks. However, statistically significant decreases in the mean frequency of total acute analgesic use per month (65% decrease in the experimental group versus 35% decrease in the control group, P <0.01) and depression score (35% decrease in the experimental group versus 0.5% increase in the control group; P <0.05) were shown at 12 weeks. At study completion, more than 50% of participants reported device satisfaction on a 5-level Likert scale. DISCUSSION Frequent use of a portable biofeedback-virtual reality device was associated with decreases in the frequency of acute analgesic use and in depression in individuals with chronic migraine. This platform holds promise as an add-on treatment for chronic migraine, especially for individuals aiming to decrease acute analgesic use or interested in nonmedication approaches.
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Neuromodulation Applied to Diseases: The Case of HRV Biofeedback. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11195927. [PMID: 36233794 PMCID: PMC9571900 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11195927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The vagus or “wandering” nerve is the main branch of the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), innervating most internal organs crucial for health. Activity of the vagus nerve can be non-invasively indexed by heart-rate variability parameters (HRV). Specific HRV parameters predict less all-cause mortality, lower risk of and better prognosis after myocardial infarctions, and better survival in cancer. A non-invasive manner for self-activating the vagus is achieved by performing a slow-paced breathing technique while receiving visual feedback of one’s HRV, called HRV-biofeedback (HRV-B). This article narratively reviews the biological mechanisms underlying the role of vagal activity and vagally mediated HRV in hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease (CHD), cancer, pain, and dementia. After searching the literature for HRV-B intervention studies in each condition, we report the effects of HRV-B on clinical outcomes in these health conditions, while evaluating the methodological quality of these studies. Generally, the levels of evidence for the benefits of HRV-B is high in CHD, pain, and hypertension, moderate in cancer, and poor in diabetes and dementia. Limitations and future research directions are discussed.
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