643: Physiotherapists� Perspectives on Mindfulness Meditation for Pain Management: A Qualitative Study.

Topic: Education, Societal Impact, and Others
Subtopic: Organisation of clinical pain care

Background and Aims: Mindfulness meditation (MM) is a mind–body practice that supports health and well‑being by cultivating focused attention and non‑reactive awareness [1]. Although evidence shows that MM can benefit people with persistent pain [2], its integration within physiotherapy practice remains limited and underexplored [3,4,5]. This study examines New Zealand physiotherapists’ perspectives and experiences of MM as a clinical intervention in physiotherapy practice settings, with the aim of identifying key barriers, facilitators, and implications for patient care.

Methods: This study employed a qualitative descriptive design. Physiotherapists were recruited through the New Zealand Physiotherapy Association and its special interest groups and participated in semi‑structured online interviews. Interview recordings were transcribed verbatim, and the data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis to develop codes, themes, and subthemes.

Results: Participants (n=15, 60% female) all regularly treated persistent musculoskeletal pain and were aged 21–64 years, with 5–44 years of experience. Analysis identified four interrelated themes: Confusion and Expectations, Application Considerations, External Influences, and Learning Opportunities and Preferences.

Conclusions: New Zealand physiotherapists recognised the benefits of mindfulness meditation (MM) for people with persistent pain; however, biomedical beliefs and attitudes among both colleagues and patients were seen as influencing its acceptance and utilisation in practice. Participants identified several factors that could facilitate greater use of MM, including clinicians’ own personal practice, access to calm and supportive physical environments, and opportunities for interdisciplinary exposure. These findings highlight important considerations for the development of future MM training initiatives and the design of clinical environments that enable its effective integration into physiotherapy care.

References: 1. Kabat-Zinn, Jon, Leslie Lipworth, and Robert Burney. "The clinical use of mindfulness meditation for the self-regulation of chronic pain." Journal of behavioral medicine 8, no. 2 (1985): 163-190.
2. McClintock, Andrew S., Shannon M. McCarrick, Eric L. Garland, Fadel Zeidan, and Aleksandra E. Zgierska. "Brief mindfulness-based interventions for acute and chronic pain: a systematic review." The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine: Paradigm, Practice, and Policy Advancing Integrative Health 25, no. 3 (2019): 265-278.
3. Tatta, Joe, Annette M. Willgens, and Kerstin M. Palombaro. "Mindfulness and acceptance–based interventions in physical therapist practice: the time is now." Physical therapy 102, no. 3 (2022): pzab293.
4. Sullivan, Marlysa B., Kelsea Hill, Lindsay A. Ballengee, Daniel Knoblach, Christopher Fowler, Jolie Haun, and Michael Saenger. "Remotely delivered psychologically informed mindful movement physical therapy for pain care: a framework for operationalization." Global advances in integrative medicine and health 12 (2023): 27536130231209751.
5. McGrath, Ryan L., Sophie Shephard, Tracey Parnell, Sarah Verdon, and Rodney Pope. "Recommended approaches to assessing and managing physiotherapy clients experiencing psychological distress: a systematic mapping review." Physiotherapy theory and practice 40, no. 11 (2024): 2670-2700.

Presenting Author: Ramakrishnan Mani
Submitting Author: Ramakrishnan Mani

Senior Author: Ramakrishnan Mani

IASP 2026 Global Year theme of Neuropathic Pain: No

• Fleur Neill: BPhty - School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
• Leigh Hale: PhD - School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
• Rebecca Armstrong: BPhty - School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
• Julian O'Hagan: GradDipPhys - School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand