Chronic Pain and Stress Reduced by Group Wellness Programs

DETROIT, Aug. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- A group wellness program has been shown to significantly relieve pain and stress, and improve stress-related chronic illnesses, according to Henry Ford Hospital researchers.

Henry Ford's Center for Integrative Wellness conducted on-site group wellness programs for local corporations to improve employee health and wellness, and found participants were able to reduce and eliminate chronic pain of all types, while simultaneously alleviating stress.  

The results of the controlled clinical trials will be presented at the Hospital Association of Southern California's Hospital Wellness Conference in Los Angeles, August 4.

According to the American Academy of Pain Medicine, one out of four Americans has persistent or chronic pain with an estimated annual cost to employers of more than $61 billion in lost productivity. The leading causes of recurrent or persistent pain affecting Americans are headache pain, back pain, and neck pain.

"Reductions in disability, depression symptoms, perceived stress, and sleep disturbance were reported by program participants," says Robert A. Levine, Ph.D., director of the center. "Results also showed improvement in stress-related conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, anxiety, and fatigue."

The researchers looked at more than 1,400 program participants since 2007 and found: 

• 76% of chronic pain conditions were improved
• 39% of all chronic pain conditions were eliminated (defined as average score of "0" on a 0-10 scale), including back, neck, hip, sciatica, shoulder, knee, headache, and abdominal pain
• 74% of participants reduced their stress
• 50% of reported stress-related conditions (including high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, allergies, anxiety, fatigue, gastrointestinal distress, etc.) were improved
• 70% of participants were able to eliminate the need for and use of pain medications

The multi-session group wellness programs, delivering 18-24 hours of in-session time over several months, work simultaneously with the mind and body to produce stress relief and release muscles in excess contraction that contribute to pain.

Program participants learn simple movement techniques and strategies to sense and regain control of their muscles, leading to noticeable improvements in pain, stiffness and mobility, as well as improvements in stress-related conditions. They also learn to relax, breathe properly, and intervene with unwanted thought patterns and stress reflexes that contribute to pain and stress.

"Chronic pain and stress are intricately related and the importance of stress as a causal and/or aggravating factor in most chronic illnesses cannot be underestimated," says Alba Rodriguez, Ph.D., associate director of the center.  "These group programs have proven to be more effective than other approaches, and are more efficient and less expensive than most one-on-one care, whether conventional or alternative."

The programs were recently recognized by American Hospital Association in its Creating a Culture of Health report, naming Henry Ford as one of seven hospitals nationwide that are examples of best practices in wellness programs.

SOURCE Henry Ford Health System