Meta-analysis finds VR distraction does not reduce pain during IUD insertion but may lower anxiety
Virtual reality fails to stop pain during IUD insertion but helps with anxiety
This systematic review and meta-analysis of 4 RCTs (n=440) found that immersive virtual reality distraction did not significantly reduce pos…
New research shows virtual reality helps women feel less anxious during IUD insertion but does not reduce their physical pain.
Narrative review contrasts pediatric and adult pain management in emergency settings
ER Doctors Are Rethinking Pain Care for Kids vs Adults
This narrative review synthesizes global emergency department pain management strategies for pediatric versus adult patients. It highlights …
It starts with a child clutching a broken arm.
Palm stimulator and cartoon reduce pain and fear during IV catheterization in children aged 5-12
Can a simple palm stimulator or cartoon ease a child's needle pain and fear?
A single-center RCT of 90 children aged 5-12 found that both a palm stimulator and watching a cartoon significantly reduced pain and fear sc…
Simple distractions like squeezing a palm stimulator or watching cartoons significantly reduced pain and fear during IVs for children aged 5…
Survey finds 94% of cancer patients willing to try acupuncture for symptom relief
What do cancer patients want from acupuncture? A survey reveals their top hopes.
A questionnaire survey of 511 cancer patients at Beijing Cancer Hospital found 481 (94.1%) were willing to receive acupuncture treatment. Di…
Cancer patients overwhelmingly want acupuncture to help with sleep, pain, and fatigue, with 94% expressing willingness to try the treatment.
Animated video reduces pain and improves satisfaction during transperineal prostate biopsy in RCT
Animated video information reduced pain and improved satisfaction during prostate biopsy
In a randomized trial of 103 men undergoing transperineal prostate biopsy under local anesthesia, adding an animated video to standard infor…
Watching a short animated video before a prostate biopsy significantly reduced pain and improved satisfaction for men undergoing the procedu…
CDC Updates Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain
How should doctors prescribe opioids for pain? New guidelines aim to help.
The CDC has published an updated clinical practice guideline for prescribing opioids for pain. The guideline's specific recommendations, pop…
New federal guidelines give doctors a clearer framework for prescribing opioids to help patients get relief while minimizing risks.
Acupuncture and massage reduced pain in AYA cancer patients in small RCT subgroup analysis
Acupuncture and massage may help reduce pain in young adults with advanced cancer
A subgroup analysis of an RCT in 30 adolescent and young adult patients with advanced cancer found both acupuncture and massage reduced wors…
Young adults with advanced cancer reported less pain after receiving either acupuncture or massage, with massage showing slightly larger red…
Narrative review describes bidirectional relationship between sarcopenia and pain in older adults
Why do muscle loss and chronic pain feed off each other in older adults?
A narrative review synthesizes evidence on the connection between sarcopenia and pain in aging populations. It describes a bidirectional rel…
Older adults with chronic pain often lose muscle strength, while losing muscle makes pain worse, creating a dangerous cycle fueled by aging …
Phenotype-based pain management in RA patients shows improved outcomes in retrospective cohort
Can matching pain type to treatment help people with rheumatoid arthritis?
A retrospective cohort study of 287 rheumatoid arthritis patients found that phenotype-specific interventions (pharmacological, psychologica…
Matching pain type to treatment helped 287 rheumatoid arthritis patients reduce inflammation, anxiety, and depression while improving sleep …
Virtual reality reduces intraoperative anxiety and pain in adult oral surgery patients
Virtual reality may reduce anxiety and pain during oral surgery procedures
A meta-analysis of 9 studies found virtual reality interventions significantly reduced intraoperative anxiety (SMD = -0.26) and pain (SMD = …
Wearing virtual reality headsets during oral surgery helps adults feel less anxious and experience less pain while getting procedures like t…
Single-shot regional anesthesia likely reduces early pain and opioid use in rib fracture patients
Can a single nerve block ease the agony of broken ribs?
A systematic review and network meta-analysis of 738 adult rib fracture patients found that single-shot regional anesthesia (SSRA) technique…
A targeted nerve block can cut pain sharply in the first hours after broken ribs and reduce opioid needs, a review of 738 patients shows.
Pain Neuroscience Education shows short-term benefit for PTA student attitudes, not sustained at 3 months
Can a single lecture change how future therapists think about pain?
A small RCT in 41 Turkish physiotherapy assistant students compared a single Pain Neuroscience Education lecture to traditional pain educati…
A single lecture on pain neuroscience briefly changed future therapists' beliefs, but the difference faded away after three months without o…