The Calm App as an Adjunct to Physical Therapy for Chronic Neck and Shoulder Pain

Background: As Physical Therapists tasked with treating chronic pain to combat the opioid epidemic it becomes necessary to treat both the physical and psychological aspects of pain in the outpatient clinic. Integrating a guided meditation application can be an effective way for Physical Therapists to integrate mindfulness training into their treatment plan. Purpose: The purpose of this case is to describe the integration of a meditation application in combination with a graded exercise program as part of the Physical Therapy treatment plan for chronic neck and shoulder pain. Case Description: A 66-year-old female presented to physical therapy for treatment of her long-standing neck and shoulder pain. The patient has a history of multiple motor vehicle accidents (MVA) along with an extensive list of comorbidities including cancer, anxiety disorder, and psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES). Outcomes: The QuickDASH and Neck Disability Index(NDI) where used to evaluate shoulder and neck physical function and both showed significant improvement after 6 weeks of treatment. Subjective reports of fatigue, and stress were assessed at each treatment session. Discussion: While not a substitute for skilled clinical psychological intervention, a meditation application may be a way to integrate mindfulness practice, with Physical Therapy interventions, as a home program for patients with chronic pain.