Complementary therapies in medicine最新文献

{"title":"Corrigendum to “Therapeutic effect of focused-extracorporeal shockwave therapy on muscular and adjacent tissue stiffness and pain changes in myofascial pain syndrome: A randomized controlled trial study” [Complem Ther Med 92 (2025), 103203]","authors":"Pijakkana Vasvit , Kultida Klarod , Oranat Sukkho , Sirirat Kiatkulanusorn , Phurichaya Werasirirat , Xue-Qiang Wang , Yong-Hui Zhang , Juntip Namsawang , Pornpimol Muanjai , Nongnuch Luangpon","doi":"10.1016/j.ctim.2026.103326","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctim.2026.103326","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":10545,"journal":{"name":"Complementary therapies in medicine","volume":"97 ","pages":"Article 103326"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146123936","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The role of yoga in enhancing spiritual and psychological health: Evidence from a large cross-sectional study","authors":"Gusztáv József Tornóczky ,&nbsp;Henriett Nagy ,&nbsp;István Karsai ,&nbsp;Ana Conceição ,&nbsp;Robert Podstawski ,&nbsp;Attila Szabo","doi":"10.1016/j.ctim.2026.103330","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctim.2026.103330","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Research has rarely explored yoga’s link to spirituality, and none have examined spiritual well-being via Fisher’s four-domain model. Comparative studies with active control groups are also lacking.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study examines the relationships between spirituality, subjective well-being (SWB), and mental health indicators (depression, anxiety, and stress) among yoga practitioners, physically active individuals, and inactive controls.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A total of 1.167 Hungarian adults (79 % females), mean age 34.52 years (SD ± 14.97), completed an online survey assessing spiritual health attitudes and behaviors, SWB, and mental health symptoms, along with the frequency of physical activity.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Multivariate analyses showed significant group differences (Wilks’ Λ =.811, F(26, 2304) = 9.77, p &lt; .001, partial η² = .099) across the combined dependent variables. Yoga practitioners reported significantly (p &lt; .001) higher well-being and spirituality, and lower depression, anxiety, and distress than both regular exercisers and inactive participants. Regular exercisers also demonstrated more favorable psychological outcomes than inactive individuals, though to a lesser extent than yoga practitioners. Weekly physical activity frequency was positively associated with well-being and negatively associated with mental health symptoms across groups. Correlation patterns revealed several spirituality-related variables that were uniquely and more strongly associated (p &lt; .001 to p &lt; .023) with health indicators in the yoga group.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>These findings support the mental health benefits of regular physical activity and emphasize yoga's distinct contribution to spiritual well-being. The results highlight the integrative value of embodied spiritual practices, such as yoga, in promoting psychological resilience and holistic well-being.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10545,"journal":{"name":"Complementary therapies in medicine","volume":"97 ","pages":"Article 103330"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146218797","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficacy of acupuncture for chronic recalcitrant plantar fasciitis: A randomized trial","authors":"Weiming Wang ,&nbsp;Jing Kang ,&nbsp;Xi Wang ,&nbsp;Lili Zhu ,&nbsp;Kehua Zhou ,&nbsp;Zhiwei Zang ,&nbsp;Ruimin Jiao ,&nbsp;Weina Zhang ,&nbsp;Jiaxiang Shi ,&nbsp;Yan Liu ,&nbsp;Zhishun Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.ctim.2026.103329","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctim.2026.103329","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Plantar fasciitis (PF) is a leading cause of heel pain, yet effective treatments for chronic, recalcitrant cases are scarce. The aim of this randomized, no-treatment-controlled trial was to assess whether acupuncture (a combination of high- and low-intensity acupuncture) would reduce pain in patients with chronic recalcitrant PF compared to a waitlist control. Participants were randomly assigned (2:1:1) to high-intensity acupuncture (n = 60), low-intensity acupuncture (n = 30), or waitlist control (n = 30). The primary outcome was the proportion of responders (≥50 % reduction in worst pain intensity) at week 4 for the combined acupuncture groups versus the waitlist control group. Key secondary outcomes included responder rates for high- and low-intensity acupuncture versus waitlist control at weeks 4, 8, and 16. Of 120 randomized participants, 109 (90.8 %) completed the trial. At week 4, the proportion of responders was significantly higher in the combined groups than in the waitlist control group (56.7 % [95 %CI, 46.4 %-66.9 %] vs 33.3 % [95 %CI, 16.5 %-50.2 %]; difference: 23.3 % [95 %CI, 3.6 %-43.1 %]; <em>P</em> = 0.02), with a similar trend observed through week 16. A graded response to acupuncture intensity was evident: at week 16, the responder rate in the high-intensity acupuncture group was 76.7 %, compared to 36.7 % in the waitlist control group (difference: 40.0 % [95 % CI, 19.7 %-60.3 %]; <em>P</em> &lt; 0.001), while the low-intensity acupuncture group had a nonsignificant 20.0 % difference (95 % CI, −4.7–44.7 %; <em>P</em> = 0.11). Among patients with chronic recalcitrant PF, acupuncture, particularly high-intensity acupuncture, notably reduced pain compared with waitlist control, with lasting effects up to week 16.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10545,"journal":{"name":"Complementary therapies in medicine","volume":"97 ","pages":"Article 103329"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146225497","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of auriculotherapy on the management of anxiety in pregnant and postpartum women in health services: Scoping review","authors":"Larissa Régia da Fonsêca MARINHO ,&nbsp;Maria Eduarda de Araújo RAMOS ,&nbsp;Vinicius dos Santos Lemos PEREIRA ,&nbsp;Gabriel Pedro Duarte da SILVA ,&nbsp;Jucielly Ferreira da FONSECA ,&nbsp;Silmara de Oliveira SILVA ,&nbsp;Kessya Dantas DINIZ ,&nbsp;Rodrigo Assis Neves DANTAS ,&nbsp;Daniele Vieira DANTAS","doi":"10.1016/j.ctim.2026.103324","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctim.2026.103324","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To map the scientific literature on the effects of auriculotherapy for managing anxiety in pregnant and postpartum women in health services.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>The review was conducted in June 2025 by two independent reviewers. A scope search was performed across the following databases: Scopus, LILACS (Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature), Web of Science, SciELO (Scientific Electronic Library Online), PubMed, Cochrane Library, the CAPES Catalog of Theses and Dissertations, SAGE Open, Wanfang Data, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure. The review included full-text online manuscripts that addressed the research question, encompassing dissertations, theses, ministerial orders, guidelines, and scientific articles.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The final sample consisted of 12 studies published between 2013 and 2025, with a peak in 2023 (25 %), originating from Brazil and Asia. The interventions predominantly used dark mustard seeds applied to the Shen Men and Anxiety acupoints. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was the primary instrument for anxiety assessment. Most studies demonstrated a significant reduction in mean STAI scores and anxiety symptoms in pregnant and postpartum women following auriculotherapy. Key reported effects included decreased anxiety levels, reduced low back pain and fatigue, and improved sleep quality and energy levels.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Auriculotherapy shows beneficial effects for managing anxiety in pregnant and postpartum women, leading to enhanced well-being and reduced anxiety levels.</div></div><div><h3>Implications</h3><div>for the profession and/or patient care: Further research is necessary, particularly focusing on the postpartum period, to consolidate the evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of auriculotherapy in this population.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10545,"journal":{"name":"Complementary therapies in medicine","volume":"97 ","pages":"Article 103324"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146123984","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bridging tradition and innovation: Acupuncture for depression through clinical efficacy and neurobiological insights","authors":"Ning Xu ,&nbsp;Siyan Xu ,&nbsp;Long Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103307","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103307","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>To elucidate the research progress on acupuncture therapy as a complementary and alternative medicine treatment for depression by reviewing existing literature.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We conducted a comprehensive search across PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases for relevant literature from inception to October 7, 2024. Additionally, we manually searched medical literature related to Chinese Medicine and acupuncture for pertinent theories and theoretical frameworks.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Manual acupuncture (MA) and electroacupuncture (EA) are the most commonly studied forms of acupuncture, demonstrating efficacy in modulating depression both as standalone therapies and as adjunct therapies for antidepressants in the short to medium-term. Other modalities such as auricular acupuncture, laser acupuncture, and warm acupuncture have also shown benefits in managing depression. The therapeutic mechanisms of acupuncture are multifaceted, including modulation of neural networks, regulation of neurotransmitters, neurotrophic factors, and neuropeptides, inhibition of neuroinflammation and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis hyperactivity, restoration of neuroplasticity, modulation of specific gene expression, and regulation of intestinal flora. Recent studies emphasize the need for collaboration between acupuncture, engineering, and modern technology for the future development of acupuncture techniques.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Acupuncture has shown efficacy in treating depression through multi-targeted modulation within the body. Moving forward, acupuncture is poised to enhance its practice by cooperating with engineering and digital technologies to offer patients more comprehensive and personalized treatment plans.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10545,"journal":{"name":"Complementary therapies in medicine","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 103307"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145562990","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The progress and application of hot spring hydrotherapy in medical fields: A narrative review","authors":"Yulan Lv ,&nbsp;Dongyun Li ,&nbsp;Ruina Liu ,&nbsp;Yongsheng He","doi":"10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103312","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103312","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Natural hot spring water has been known for its healing and wellness properties for thousands of years. Hot spring hydrotherapy a form of natural therapy, the medical effects of it mainly involves a comprehensive effect of multiple aspects such as physics, chemistry, biology and psychology. This paper starts from the current stage of the application of hot spring hydrotherapy in the field of medicine, analyses the recent research on hot spring hydrotherapy in the medical field in order to form a comprehensive understanding of hot spring hydrotherapy. The recent literature and systematic reviews were surveyed and summarized, hot spring hydrotherapy is very effective in solving skin diseases, rheumatism, digestive system diseases, respiratory system diseases, nervous system diseases and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, the selection of hot spring and treatments should be considered for different conditions as hot spring hydrotherapy is not suitable for all diseases. Hot spring hydrotherapy can be considered a safe and generally well-accepted intervention in health care to alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life, and hopes that it can provide a certain reference basis for the research of the relevant content in the future.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10545,"journal":{"name":"Complementary therapies in medicine","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 103312"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145647475","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The health effects of diaphragmatic breathing: A systematic review","authors":"Chan-Young Kwon ,&nbsp;Jiyoon Won ,&nbsp;Boram Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103317","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103317","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Diaphragmatic breathing (DB) is widely used clinically, but a comprehensive synthesis of randomized controlled trial (RCT) evidence on its health effects is lacking. This systematic review evaluated the health effects of DB interventions in adults based on RCT evidence.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Six electronic databases were searched through January 2025 for RCTs comparing DB to control conditions in adults. Two reviewers independently selected studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias (Cochrane RoB 2). A narrative synthesis was performed due to substantial heterogeneity across studies.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>We included 48 RCTs. DB protocols were highly heterogeneous, with parameters varying widely in breathing frequency (2–10 breaths/min), session duration (3–45 min), and total duration (single session to 12 weeks). Methodological quality was a significant concern (only 2.12 % of outcomes low risk of bias). Consistent benefits were found for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (including reduced medication use), anxiety, post-COVID-19 syndrome, and gestational diabetes). In healthy adults, DB showed acute cardiovascular benefits. However, evidence was inconsistent for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and DB was less effective than standard care after cardiac surgery. Safety was underreported (18.75 % of studies), but no serious adverse events were noted.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>DB is a promising complementary therapy for specific conditions, including GERD, but the evidence base is constrained by methodologically weak and heterogeneous primary studies. Future research requires rigorous, standardized trial designs to establish its clinical value. Despite these limitations, DB is a low-cost, accessible, and apparently safe intervention for select conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10545,"journal":{"name":"Complementary therapies in medicine","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 103317"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145892383","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Animal-assisted therapy in patients with psychotic disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis","authors":"Ana María Peraile-Huerta ,&nbsp;Estela Jiménez-López ,&nbsp;Valentina Díaz-Goñi ,&nbsp;Tomás Olivo Martins-de-Passos ,&nbsp;Fernando Peral-Martínez ,&nbsp;Sandra Herráiz-Garrote ,&nbsp;Ana Pérez-Moreno ,&nbsp;Arthur Eumann Mesas ,&nbsp;Bruno Bizzozero-Peroni","doi":"10.1016/j.ctim.2026.103322","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctim.2026.103322","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>To synthesize the available evidence on the effects of animal-assisted therapy on core symptom dimensions (including positive, negative, and general symptoms), specific symptom domains (including depression, anhedonia, anxiety, stress) and cognitive functioning in patients with psychotic spectrum disorders.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with the PRISMA and Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions guidelines. The PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and PsycINFO databases were searched from inception to June 2025 with no language restrictions. Experimental follow-up studies implementing animal-assisted therapy in patients with psychotic disorders were included. Pooled standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using a random effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed with the I² statistic.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 12 studies (10 randomized controlled trials, a quasi-experimental controlled trial and a pre-post study) involving 408 patients (mean age range: 37.0–55.3 years; 32.6 % women) were included. Compared with control conditions, patients receiving animal-assisted therapy (predominantly dog-assisted) showed significantly greater pre-post improvements in negative symptoms (SMD = −0.51, 95 % CI: −0.95, −0.07; I² = 45.2 %; n = 6). No significant effects were found for positive symptoms (SMD = −0.68, 95 % CI: −1.68, 0.32; I² = 83.8 %; n = 6) or general symptoms (SMD = −0.08, 95 % CI: −0.86, 0.69; I² = 72.5 %; n = 4). Sensitivity analyses restricted to dog-assisted interventions yielded similar effect estimates. Anxiety symptoms showed reductions but could not be synthesized quantitatively.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Animal-assisted therapy may help alleviate symptoms in patients with psychotic disorders, particularly by reducing negative symptoms. Further randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings and clarify their clinical significance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10545,"journal":{"name":"Complementary therapies in medicine","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 103322"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145984607","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative effects of static, classical, and sham dry needling on muscle properties and autonomic nervous system activity in cervical myofascial pain syndrome","authors":"Gracjan Olaniszyn ,&nbsp;Adrian Kużdżał ,&nbsp;Jakub Taradaj ,&nbsp;Robert Trybulski","doi":"10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103314","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103314","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Dry needling is frequently used for managing myofascial pain, yet the influence of needle manipulation technique on physiological responses remains uncertain.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To compare the short-term effects of classical dynamic (pistoning) dry needling (CDN), static dry needling (SDN), and sham needling (shamN) on mechanical and microcirculatory properties of the upper trapezius muscle.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In this randomized, single-blind, sham-controlled trial, 45 participants with upper-trapezius myofascial trigger points were allocated to CDN (n = 15), SDN (n = 15), or shamN (n = 15). CDN involved multiple fast in–out needle insertions to elicit local twitch responses, SDN consisted of a single needle insertion retained for 60 s without manipulation, and shamN simulated insertion without skin penetration. Outcomes included pressure pain threshold (PPT, N/m²), muscle stiffness (N/m), tone (Hz), elasticity (D), and perfusion (PU), recorded at baseline, immediately, 60 min, 24 h, and 7 days post-intervention. Data were analyzed with mixed (Group × Time) ANCOVA models using baseline as covariate.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A significant main effect of time was observed for PPT (p = 0.039, η²ₚ = 0.071) and a significant Time × Group interaction for elasticity (p &lt; 0.001, η²ₚ = 0.974) and perfusion (p &lt; 0.001, η²ₚ = 0.483). Post hoc comparisons showed higher PPT and perfusion and lower stiffness and tone in CDN compared with SDN and shamN across most time points (p &lt; 0.05). No significant differences were found between SDN and shamN.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>CDN induced greater short-term improvements in mechanical and perfusion outcomes of the upper trapezius than static or sham procedures, suggesting that needle manipulation intensity modulates physiological responses. Long-term studies are warranted to confirm sustained clinical relevance. Trial registration: ISRCTN16484644</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10545,"journal":{"name":"Complementary therapies in medicine","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 103314"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145733220","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Duration of music listening in music-induced analgesia: A pilot randomized controlled trial","authors":"Emy S. van der Valk Bouman ,&nbsp;Antonia S. Becker ,&nbsp;Melissa Smienk ,&nbsp;Mirte M.B. Horstink ,&nbsp;Cecile C. de Vos ,&nbsp;Hans Jeekel ,&nbsp;Chris I. De Zeeuw ,&nbsp;Markus Klimek","doi":"10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103311","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103311","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Music is a non-pharmacological treatment that is effective for pain relief. However, the extent to which duration of listening to music influences music-induced analgesia (MIA) is unclear.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In this pilot randomized controlled trial, healthy volunteers (n = 80) were subjected in a parallel design to music for 0, 1, 5 or 20 min. Pain was induced by increasing electric stimuli using the Biopac program Stimusol. MIA was assessed at baseline, at the end of the experimental period with music (intervention), and after a five-minute washout period without music. Data were analyzed using linear mixed models to account for measurement sequences.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>For the intervention measurement, pain endurance did not differ between groups. However, pain threshold was higher in the 20-minute group (β = 2.5, p &lt; 0.001), but not in the 1-minute and 5-minute groups, compared to the control group. On average, perceived pain intensity and unpleasantness were somewhat lower in all music groups compared to the control group, but none of these differences were significantly different. Emotional valence was higher in the music groups compared to the control group, which was significant only for the 1-minute group (β = 0.6, p = 0.027). Albeit not consistently, heart rate variability indicated more sympathetic activity in all music groups. For the washout measurement, no clear trends were visible.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Translating these findings to clinical care, it seems advisable for patients to listen to music for a sufficient amount of time (≥20 min) to achieve effective MIA. Further research is needed to validate these results and determine the optimal “dosage” for MIA.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10545,"journal":{"name":"Complementary therapies in medicine","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 103311"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145615982","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}