For veterans living with chronic musculoskeletal pain, adding self-care therapies like yoga, meditation, or Tai Chi to standard treatments may boost feelings of well-being and reduce fatigue. But a new study found that these extra therapies didn't actually improve pain-related function more than standard care alone.
The study followed 3,306 veterans at 18 VA medical centers. Some received only practitioner-delivered therapies like acupuncture, chiropractic, or massage. Others also added self-care options such as mindfulness, yoga, or Tai Chi. After six months, both groups reported similar improvements in how much pain interfered with daily life.
However, those who added self-care therapies were more likely to say they felt better overall. About 27% reported improved well-being, 28% felt less fatigue, and 24% noticed better mental health. These benefits were small but meaningful to patients.
It's important to note that this was not a randomized trial. Researchers used the availability of therapies as a stand-in for random assignment, which limits what we can conclude. Still, the findings suggest that offering self-care options alongside standard treatments may help veterans feel better in ways that matter to them.
