Which of the following is an example of active, non-pharmacological pain treatment?

Meditation is considered an active, non-pharmacological pain treatment because it requires the individual to engage actively in the practice of focusing their mind and achieving a state of relaxation. This mental engagement helps in managing pain by influencing the perception of pain and reducing stress, which can exacerbate pain sensations.

Unlike passive treatments that may be done to a patient without their active participation, such as heat therapy or massage, meditation necessitates self-direction and involvement. It empowers the individual to harness their mental resources, providing a tool for pain management that can be practiced independently.

While options like heat therapy, massage, and acupuncture are beneficial treatments in their own right, they are more passive in nature as they typically involve an external agent or modality applied to the individual, rather than an internalized, active process like meditation. This distinction is key in understanding how different types of non-pharmacological treatments can be categorized based on the level of active participation they require from the patient.