Efficacy of Acupuncture in Chronic Low Back Pain Treatment: A Literature Review
Lucca Tamara Alves Carretta, Pedro Rodrigues Teixeira, Ana Clara Pirovani Dias, Carolina Mesquita Devens, Luiza Norbim Rones, Camila Kafuri Bonacossa, Cássio Newton Bomfim Barbosa
Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medical Research · pp. 10–16 · Published 15 Feb 2024
10.9734/jocamr/2024/v25i2515Abstract
Aims: To evaluate the effects of the use of acupuncture as a treatment of chronic low back pain. Methodology: This study follows the integrative methodology of literature review, seeking articles published on PubMed, using keywords from Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) to form the search Formula: Acupuncture AND "low back pain". Inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials published between 2018 and 2023, with free full text available in english or portuguese. The exclusion criteria was not answering this review’s orienting question. Results: Several studies analyzed the efficacy of different acupuncture and electroacupuncture approaches in the treatment of chronic low back pain. One study highlighted invasive laser acupuncture with different wavelengths, revealing improvements in pain and disability scales after 4 weeks. Another research compared electroacupuncture at various frequencies, observing similar reductions in pain between the groups. Combined acupuncture (hands and ear) was more effective than usual medical treatment, showing greater reduction in pain and cure rate. Both electroacupuncture and manual acupuncture also demonstrated efficacy in reducing pain intensity and quality. Acupuncture with embedded wires stood out, showing positive and rapid results in chronic low back pain. Another study revealed that both electroacupuncture and a placebo had positive impacts on pain intensity. Conclusion: Even though there are multiple forms of acupuncture used throughout the studies, and even those that appear on multiple studies are done differently on those appearances, all are used as a way to reduce CLBP. In that sense, the positive effects from using traditional acupuncture or some different form of acupuncture as a treatment for CLBP is highlighted by the results from the studies that were a part of this review.
References (15)
- 1 A systematic review of the global prevalence of low back pain [DOI]
- 2 Diagnosis and Treatment of Low Back Pain: A Joint Clinical Practice Guideline from the American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society [DOI]
- 3 The Epidemiology of low back pain [DOI]
- 4 Acupuncture for chronic nonspecific low back pain [DOI]
- 5 The Role of Acupuncture in Pain Management [DOI]
- 6 Effectiveness of Manual and Electrical Acupuncture for Chronic Non-specific Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial [DOI]
- 7 Epidemiological Features of Chronic Low-Back Pain [DOI]
- 8 Low back pain – a diagnostic approach [DOI]
- 9 Clinical effectiveness of laser acupuncture in the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorder [DOI]
- 10 Efficacy of invasive laser acupuncture in treating chronic non-specific low back pain: A randomized controlled trial [DOI]
- 11 Effect of Different Frequencies of Electroacupuncture on Chronic Low Back Pain in Older Adults: A Triple-blind, Placebo-controlled, Randomized Clinical Trial [DOI]
- 12 Clinical Effects of Laser Acupuncture plus Chinese Cupping on the Pain and Plasma Cortisol Levels in Patients with Chronic Nonspecific Lower Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial [DOI]
- 13 Effect of hand-ear acupuncture on chronic low-back pain: a randomized controlled trial.
- 14 Laser acupuncture in the treatment of neuropathies in dentistry: a systematic review [DOI]
- 15 Efficacy of Electronic Acupuncture Shoes for Chronic Low Back Pain: Double-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial [DOI]
Cited by 2
Juliyas Shrotriya · Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International · 2024
SARA H. BADR, M.Sc.*; WADIDA H. MOHAMMED IBRAHIM, Ph.D.* · The Medical Journal of Cairo University/The Medical Journal of Cairo University · 2025
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