Daniel Cherkin

Dr. Daniel Cherkin speaks with us today about mindfulness programs impact on back pain.

We’ve seen a great deal of research about mindfulness these days, and in lots of arenas, including pain management. Much of that research is done by those with an interest in mindfulness; that’s what they study. But today’s guest speaks from the position of a researcher who does not have a vested interest in mindfulness or contemplative practice at all, and what he found in his randomized clinical trial for mindfulness effects on patients suffering from back pain.

Appointed December 2010 by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Dr. Cherkin served on the 2011–2014 National Advisory Council for the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) within National Institutes of Health. He was appointed to the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)’s Advisory Panel for Improving Healthcare Systems Advisory Panel in 2013. Dr. Cherkin has maintained two faculty appointments at the University of Washington since the 1980s and is now affiliate professor in both family medicine and health services.

Special thanks to Rebecca Hughes for her coordination of today’s interview.

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Web Links

• Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction vs Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Usual Care on Back Pain and Functional Limitations among Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial
• Article: Mindfulness meditation eases chronic low back pain
• A call for a more patient-centered approach to treating back pain
• Video about the research

Music for This Episode Courtesy of Rodrigo Rodriguez

The music heard in this podcast is from Rodrigo Rodriguez. You can visit his website to hear more of his music, get the full discography, and view his upcoming tour dates.