A scoping review of mind-body therapies for people with persistent pain after stroke

PurposePersistent pain post-stroke is common; however, non-medical management options remain under-researched. This scoping review sought to identify and summarise existing literature regarding mind-body therapies for people with persistent pain post-stroke, examine pain and pain-related biopsychosocial outcomes, and identify areas for future research.Materials and methodsThis review followed PRISMA and JBI guidelines; the protocol was registered on Open Science Framework. Five electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science) were searched from 1992 until 19th August 2024. Primary studies of any design evaluating mind-body therapies in adults with persistent pain post-stroke, published in English in peer-reviewed journals, were eligible. Findings were narratively summarised by study, sample, and mind-body therapy characteristics.ResultsTwenty-one studies comprising 458 adults with various post-stroke pain presentations were included. Only 10 studies specifically targeted stroke pain; the remainder primarily incorporated pre-post measures of pain in a heterogenous stroke sample (with and without pain). Studies varied in their levels of evidence, sample characteristics, mind-body therapies, and biopsychosocial outcome measurement. Nonetheless, improvements in pain and pain-related biopsychosocial outcomes were consistently reported.ConclusionLimited, lower-quality research suggests improved pain and biopsychosocial outcomes. However, further rigorous research exploring feasibility, safety, efficacy, optimal dosage, format, and setting is recommended.