Pain

Background : Low back pain (LBP) can cause changes in muscle activity in affected individuals, making it difficult for them to contract their muscles effectively and engage in physical activities. Manual chiropractic techniques have been proposed as a potential solution to improve muscle orientation and function in individuals with LBP. Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of manual techniques on maximum muscle activity electromyography, functional disability, and pain in women with non-specific chronic low back pain. Materials and Methods: Twenty women between the ages of 30 and 50, who had been experiencing NSCLBP for over three months with no history of spinal surgery or postural abnormalities, and were able to perform daily activities after providing consent, were recruited from a sports medicine clinic to participate in the study. In the pre-test, the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was used to assess functional disability, and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to assess pain levels. Additionally, the maximum muscle activity of the multifidus and lumbar quadratus lumborum (QL) was measured using EMG. Chiropractic manipulation techniques were then implemented in the experimental group, with three sessions per week for six weeks, within the clinic. The same tests were repeated in the post-test. The ANOVA test was used to compare the chiropractic and control groups, with a significance level of α ≤ 0.05. Results : The study results indicate that chiropractic manual techniques were effective in reducing lumbar EMG activity ( P = 0.0001), reducing pain index ( P = 0.002), and improving functional disability ( P = 0.001) significantly. Conclusion : The study findings suggest that six weeks of chiropractic manipulation techniques can induce a feeling of relaxation, reduce pain, and passively strengthen the lumbar muscles. These improvements in muscle condition and functional disability may lead to a reduction in pain experienced by individuals with NSCLBP.

Purpose Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is usually observed among women of reproductive age, so, it may be worsened by emotional and somatic symptoms. The main aim of this investigation was to assess the predictability of pain intensity and psychological distress by personality traits and self-regulation skills among the Iranian female population. Methods The data were collected via numeric pain assessment, DASS-42, NEO, SRQ, and demographic questionnaire. The significant level was set at 0.05. In this study, we used the method of variance-based structural equations by PLS software. Results Pearson correlation between total score of self-regulation skills and subscales of DASS-42 stress, anxiety, and depression were respectively (0.78), (0.71), and (0.73). Thenceforward, the correlation between pain intensity and total score of self-regulation skills was (0.72). Moreover, results showed that the correlation between personality traits scores with subscales of DASS-42 stress, anxiety, and depression were respectively (0.71), (0.73), and (0.87). Finally, data analysis demonstrated a correlation between self-regulation skills and pain intensity (0.70). (P= 0.05) Conclusions This article shows that personality traits and self-regulation skills can significantly predict the degree of pain intensity and psychological distress among females before and during menstruation concerning mediating role of suggestibility and attitudes toward menstruation.

Objective: Irritable bowel syndrome is a chronic and debilitating digestive disorder that is more common in people with psychological disorders than in the general population. This study is aimed at the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy in the mitigating of chronic pain and cognitive-emotional regulation in patients with Irritable bowel syndrome. Method: This study investigates the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy on chronic pains and cognitive emotion regulation in patients with IBS. The research method is quasi-experimental with a pretest-posttest and control group and a six-month follow-up. All patients with IBS who had presented to the Shariati Hospital of Tehran and Masoud Gastroenterology and Liver Clinic from autumn 2019 to winter 2020 comprised the statistical population. The sample size was 48 people selected by convenience sampling, then divided into an experimental group and a control group using a block randomization procedure (with each group containing 24). Chronic Pain Grade Scale and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire were the research tools provided to the two groups. However, the control group remained on the waiting list and received no interventions. The cognitive-behavioral therapy intervention was performed for the experimental group for eight 90-minute sessions. Descriptive statistics and Repeated Measures analyzed research data.Results: Findings indicated that cognitive-behavioral therapy reduced chronic pain and increased cognitive regulation (p>0.01). This efficacy remained stable until a six-month follow-up (p>0.05).Conclusion: This finding can also be associated with reducing and improving cognitive emotion regulation within psychological interventions planning vision among patients with IBS, and thus have clinical usages.

Objective : This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) training on pain beliefs and dimensions of anger in women with rheumatoid arthritis. Method : The research design was quasi-experimental with a pre-test-post-test and a control group. The statistical population of the study consisted of women with rheumatoid arthritis referred to medical centers in Tabriz City in 2022. The sample included 25 women with rheumatoid arthritis selected through convenience sampling based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, who were then randomly assigned to two groups. The research instruments used were Williams and Thorne's Belief in Pain Questionnaire and Spielberger's State-Trait Anger Questionnaire, which were provided to both groups to collect the required data. The control group remained on the waiting list, while the experimental group underwent MBSR training over eight weekly sessions (90 minutes per week) following Jon Kabat-Zinn's approach. The research data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). Results : The results indicated significant differences between the MBSR and control groups in pain beliefs and anger. Specifically, MBSR treatment led to a reduction in pain-related beliefs and anger in the experimental group ( P <0.001). Eta-squared values showed that 76.3%, 71.8%, 74.4%, and 69.6% of the variance in pain beliefs and anger could be attributed to the effects of MBSR, respectively. Conclusion : Based on the findings, mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) training can be considered as a complementary and protective treatment technique for patients with chronic and painful conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.