Effects of a Mindfulness Programme on Competitive Athletes With Physical Disabilities

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Pain affects the athlete's sporting career directly or indirectly. Directly, the injury affects other areas of the body causing a physical decompensation in the athlete and this affects the correct execution of the sporting technique, or how technical gestures can cause pain. Indirectly, through the psychological consequences of pain that generate a series of negative consequences and feelings. Some studies suggest that psychological skills are an important tool for pain management. For that reason, a mindfulness intervention programme would be a useful tool for manage pain in this population.

Detailed Description
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The study hypothesised that the Mindfulness Sports Performance Enhancement (MSPE) programme adapted for this population, was more effective than mindfulness-based relaxation training as a treatment for chronic pain and associated emotional disturbances in Para athletes with physical disabilities, and that it contributes more to modifying psychological variables that have been shown to be related to or have modulatory value in the experience of chronic pain.

Official Title
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Effects of the Mindfulness Sport Performance Enhancement Programme on Competitive Athletes With Physical Disabilities.

Conditions
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Athletic Injuries, Physical Disability, Chronic Pain

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Experimental group (MSPE programme group).
* Other: Control group (relaxation group).


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Criteria: Study population 36 competitive athletes with physical disabilities, of both sexes. They practice different sports disciplines.They compete at regional, national, world and/or Paralympic Games level. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were chosen to include a specific population. Inclusion Criteria: a) have a physical disability, b) a minimum of 5 points on a Likert-type scale from 1 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable) at the time of recruitment, c) be at least 15 years of age, d) have been a competitive athlete in any sport discipline, e) have an official regional or Spanish Federation of Sports for People with Physical Disabilities licence, f) be willing to participate in a mindfulness programme for pain management and g) sign an informed consent form. Exclusion Criteria: Not having at least one of the criteria mentioned as inclusion.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 15 Years
Maximum Age: 60 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Experimental group (MSPE programme group).<br>Experimental (MSPE group). The experimental group received the Mindful Sport Performance Enhancement programme (MSPE), with some changes and adaptations taking into account the characteristics and needs of the Para-athletes and the overall aim of the study. Such as reducing the session time (2h), including staff and support material, extending the pre-session time (35-40 min), and incorporating the dynamics of emotions and Mindful Yoga into the floor of the MBSR programme [2]. | Other: Experimental group (MSPE programme group).<br>* Experimental group. MSPE Programme. This group will receive a face-to-face mindfulness MSPE programme for 6 weeks, once a week for 1h 50min-2 hours. In addition to doing mindfulness activities at home. Each session contains the following exercises: (1) intention meditation, sultana exercise, diaphragmatic breathing and sitting meditation with a focus on breath, body and sound; (2) diaphragmatic breathing, Body Scan; (3) sitting meditation, dynamics of emotions, Mindful Yoga on the floor; (4) letting go of attachments, mindful Yoga on the floor walking meditation; (5) sports meditation, sitting meditation with a focus on breath, body and sound; (6) intention meditation, body scan analysis and review of sports meditation.<br>|
| Active Comparator: Control group (relaxation group).<br>Control group. Control group. Athletes with physical disabilities participating in the home were provided with a guide to body awareness-based relaxation training guidelines [3]. | Other: Control group (relaxation group).<br>* These instructions included a combination of tension-relaxation of specific muscles and simple breathing techniques. They were recommended to do this on a daily basis, with a minimum of 4 sessions per week.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in pain intensity (current pain) post intervention. [Time Frame: Baseline and at 6 weeks].[Safety Issue: No]. | The presence of pain intensity (current pain) will be measured on a visual analogue Likert-type rating scale from 1 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable) without and with sports practice. A higher score indicates greater intensity. | Month and a half. | 
| Change in pain frequency post intervention. [Time Frame: Baseline and at 6 weeks].[Safety Issue: No] | The frequency with which Para-athletes experience pain will be assessed on a Likert-type scale from 1 (very infrequent) to 5 (very frequent). | Month and a half. | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Secondary Outcome Measure. [Time Frame: Baseline and at 6 weeks].[Safety Issue: No]. Higher values reflect higher levels on the scale to be measured. | 2. Mindful Attention Awareness Scale. The scale will assess the individual's ability to be attentive and aware of the present moment experience in everyday life. ID de PubMed: 22344492. 3. Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales. The scale will assess the presence and intensity of affective states of depression, anxiety, and stress. [5]. 4. Scales of Psychological Well-Being. The scale will assess the six dimensions postulated in the multidimensional model of psychological well-being. ID de PubMed: 17296089. 5. Satisfaction with Life Scale. The scale will assess satisfaction with life. [7]. 6. Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire. This questionnaire measures involvement in activities and openness to pain. ID de PubMed: 21044544 7. Coping Strategies Questionnaire. This questionnaire will assess the frequency with which the subject uses different pain coping strategies. ID de PubMed: 15042468 | Month and a half. | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Mindfulness, Athlete Injuries, Physical disability, Chronic pain, Psychological abilities