Cui Shu Li, Seah Cheng Ngee, Xu Sheng, Fook-Chong Stephanie Man Chung, and Tan Kian Hian.
Medical Acupuncture. -Not available-, ahead of print. doi:10.1089/acu.2015.1094.
Online Ahead of Print: July 29, 2015
ABSTRACT
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment on the quality of life and long-term pain relief in patients with low back pain.
Methods: This single-center study was carried out by 1 acupuncturist. A total of 136 patients aged 20–93 years received acupuncture treatment 1–2 times per week for a course of 5 or 10 sessions. Primary outcome measures were the severity and impact of pain on the patients’ daily functions, measured by using the Brief Pain Inventory short form. It was completed on the first visit at baseline and after the 5th and 10th sessions of acupuncture treatment. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was performed only on patients who had completed a total of 10 acupuncture treatment sessions and had complete data for all acupuncture visits and telephone follow-up survey.
Results: The study did not restrict the use of other treatment modalities. About 96% of patients were receiving other treatment at baseline, but this percentage dropped significantly to 7.4% after 10 acupuncture sessions. This reduction persisted up to 6 months upon discharge, at which time only 22.6% were still receiving other forms of therapy. Positive effects of acupuncture on general activity, mood, walking ability, normal work, relations with other people, and sleep were also demonstrated (P<0.0005).
Conclusion: This study suggests that acupuncture is efficacious in improving the general activity, mood, walking ability, and sleep of patients with low back pain. These benefits persisted for at least 6 months after the completion of treatment.