title: The effect of sensory deprivation in the reduction of pain in patients with chronic low-back pain.
abstract: Patients who suffer from persistent pain for prolonged periods of time (6 months or more) are often influenced to an increasing extent by psychological factors. Patients begin to focus on their pain as the problem rather than its physical origin. This study evaluated the effectiveness of sensory deprivation in reducing pain in patients with chronic low-back pain. Sixty patients were divided into two groups of 30 patients each: One group underwent 1 hour of sensory deprivation; the other received a lecture on relaxation skills. In the group receiving sensory deprivation, statistically significant decreases in pain and stiffness were noted. Sensory deprivation is an effective treatment to reduce pain and thus interrupt the pain cycle in patients with chronic low-back pain.
authors.affiliation: Texas Back Institute Research Foundation, Plano.
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Shea
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Ohnmeiss
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Stith
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Guyer
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Rashbaum
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hochschuler
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Regan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001416:Back Pain / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D012683:Sensory Deprivation