Non-pharmacological management of pain in out-of-hospital settings: a literature review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54103/dn/28912Keywords:
pain, Complementary Therapies, Non-Pharmacological, Pre-hospitalAbstract
BACKGROUND: Acute pain is a complex sensory and emotional experience that, if inadequately treated, may hinder clinical recovery and contribute to the development of chronic pain or other physical and psychological complications. In prehospital settings—particularly in remote or mountainous environments—pain management is often challenged by logistical, environmental, and organizational factors. In this context, non-pharmacological strategies are emerging as valuable complements or alternatives to conventional analgesics, offering potential benefits in terms of safety, ease of use, and reduced side effects. Aim: To identify the available evidence on the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions for managing acute pain in a pre-hospital mountain or wilderness setting.
METHODS: A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and CINAHL databases (April 2025), including experimental and observational studies published in English or Italian.
RESULTS: Nine studies were included. The most frequently reported interventions were movement restriction, cryotherapy, and acupressure, all associated with significant reductions in pain intensity and, in some cases, anxiety and heart rate. Less commonly described approaches included transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), active warming, limb elevation, and compression.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Non-pharmacological techniques demonstrated effectiveness and are often used alongside conventional treatments. However, the heterogeneity of the included studies limits the generalizability of the findings presented.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Arianna Tassone, Fabio Passet, Riccardo Sommaruga, Elena Ardizzi, Giuseppe Tedino
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Accepted 2025-11-21
Published 2026-01-31
