A randomized clinical trial in Brazil finds that an eight-week, Brazilian-adapted mindfulness program reduces pain sensitivity and improves emotional regulation in women with chronic temporomandibular disorder (TMD).

The study enrolled 53 women aged 18 to 61 with chronic TMD; the mindfulness group showed significant improvements versus a non-intervention control group.

Researchers emphasize that chronic TMD pain is multidimensional, involving central nervous system modulation, and mindfulness offers relief for both physical symptoms and mental health, with benefits extending beyond the jaw.

Authors highlight the importance of gradual progression in mindfulness training and culturally adapting practices to boost adherence and outcomes.

Mindfulness is presented as a low-cost, scalable integrative health approach suitable for Brazil’s public health system (SUS), aligning with a national policy since 2017 to include mindfulness in integrative practices.

The program was designed to be low-cost and easily implementable within SUS, suggesting potential integration as a complementary health practice.

Benefits extended beyond physical relief to include better self-care, improved cognitive function, and more conscious daily living.

The program consisted of weekly two-hour sessions for eight weeks, plus a four-hour outdoor session and home practice with audio guidance, all culturally adapted for Brazil.

Participants showed improved attention control, body awareness, and emotional regulation, and perceived pain as more transient, though anxiety and depression levels did not show significant changes.

Those who completed the program had higher pain pressure thresholds, fewer painful points, reduced stress, and less pain catastrophizing, indicating enhanced pain processing and coping.

Overall, mindfulness led to increased pain thresholds and improved coping, with reduced widespread pain and better emotional processing among participants.