Keywords
Chronic Pain
Alternative Therapies
Non-Pharmacological Intervention
Quality Of Life
Pain Management
How to Cite
Abstract
Background: Population aging has increased the prevalence of chronic diseases and multimorbidities, including chronic pain, which affects more than half of the elderly and impacts functionality, autonomy, and quality of life. Physiological changes, increased central sensitization, and the presence of comorbidities aggravate this condition, requiring integrated and safe care approaches. In this context, non-pharmacological therapies emerge as promising alternatives for pain management in the elderly, reducing risks associated with prolonged use of analgesics.
Aim: To conduct a literature review on alternative therapies used in the treatment of chronic pain in older adults.
Method: Integrative review conducted in the PUBMED database, using the strategy: (geriatr[title] OR elderly[title]) AND chronic[title] AND pain[title]*, considering articles published in the last 10 years. Studies that exclusively addressed non-pharmacological interventions were included. Results: The initial search identified 18 articles; after excluding studies focused on pharmacological therapies, 11 comprised the final sample. The interventions evaluated included physical exercise, health education, adapted yoga, muscle stabilization, virtual reality, acupuncture, hypnosis, radiofrequency ablation, and complementary therapies. Most studies reported reduced pain intensity, functional improvement, and a positive impact on quality of life. Techniques such as radiofrequency ablation and yin-yang acupuncture had particularly robust effects, while interventions such as vagal stimulation by abdominal vibrations showed limited efficacy, although they were safe and well tolerated.
Conclusion: Alternative therapies are effective and safe strategies for managing chronic pain in older adults, offering multidimensional benefits. The literature reinforces the need for multimodal, individualized, and integrated approaches, as well as additional research to improve protocols, identify response profiles, and expand the clinical applicability of these interventions.
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