Previous studies have already shown that meditation is effective in helping reduce pain, but a new study finds that a small investment in training time can result in a big payoff.

Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte have found that just an hour of training in mindfulness meditation can have an analgesic affect, even when it is broken down into three 20-minute daily sessions.

"Not only did the meditation subjects feel less pain than the control group while meditating but they also experienced less pain sensitivity while not meditating, said the study’s lead author psychologist Fadel Zeidan.

Researchers say the mindfulness training lessens the awareness of and sensitivity to pain because it trains subjects’ brains to pay attention to sensations at the present moment rather than anticipating future pain or dwelling on the emotions caused by pain.

Previously, the effort, time commitment, and financial obligations required to receive mindfulness meditation has made the treatment not practical for many patients. Researchers involved with this study say the results prove that even the briefest training can have a significant effect in reducing pain.