Acupuncture Superior to Conventional Treatment of Low Back Pain, Study Says

According to German researchers acupuncture represents an effective alternative to conventional therapy for low-back pain.

Acupuncture refers to the procedure of inserting and manipulating needles into "acupuncture points" on the body with the objective of restoring health and well-being. It can be used, according to Chinese medicine, to different types of pain and diseases.

Scientists and doctors are studying the mechanisms and efficacy of acupuncture

The German Acupuncture Trials involved clinicians in 340 outpatient practices and included 1,162 patients who had a history of low-back pain lasting an average of eight years. Trial participants were treated with either verum (real, true) or sham (fake, simulated) acupuncture or conventional therapy, which consisted of a combination of drugs, physical therapy, and exercise.

Verum (true) acupuncture consisted of 10 sessions (30 minute) of treatment according to traditional principles of Chinese medicine. Patients assigned to sham (fake) acupuncture received superficial needling at non-acupuncture points.

A six-month response rate was measured. Response rate was defined as at least 33% improvement on three pain-related items on what is known as the Von Korff Chronic Pain Grade Scale or 12% improvement on the back-specific Hanover Functional Ability Questionnaire. These two scales measure the intensity of back pain.

After six months, 47.6% of patients in the verum (true) acupuncture group had responded, as had 44.2% in the sham acupuncture group, and 27.4% in the group that received conventional therapy. Both acupuncture groups had significantly higher response rates compared with conventional therapy (combination of drugs, physical therapy, and exercise).