Efficacy of Acupuncture on Chronic Low Back Pain: A Literature Review

This literature review synthesizes findings from multiple studies on the effectiveness of acupuncture for treating low back pain (LBP), particularly chronic LBP. It evaluates systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials, assessing methodological quality and external validity. The review indicates that acupuncture provides short-term benefits for pain relief and functional improvement in chronic LBP, especially when used as an adjunct to conventional therapy. However, the quality of existing research varies, highlighting the need for more rigorous studies. One study demonstrates the feasibility of conducting a full-scale randomized controlled trial to determine the optimal number of acupuncture treatment sessions. Another study suggests acupuncture is an effective treatment for chronic low back and knee pain in geriatric patients, potentially reducing reliance on polypharmacy. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current evidence supporting acupuncture as a viable treatment option for chronic low back pain.

Running head: ARTICLE ABSTRACTS
ARTICLE ABSTRACTS
Name of the Student:
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1ARTICLE ABSTRACTS
Acupuncture for Low Back Pain: An Overview of Systematic Reviews
- Lizhou Liu, Margot Skinner, Suzanne McDonough, Leon Mabire, and
George David Baxter
Objective. As evidence of the effectiveness of acupuncture for low back pain (LBP) is
inconsistent, we aimed to critically appraisethe evidence from relevant systematic reviews.
Methods. Systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) concerningacupuncture and
LBP were searched in seven databases. Internal validity and external validity of systematic
reviews were assessed.Systematic reviews were categorized and high quality reviews assigned
greater weightings. Conclusions were generated from anarrative synthesis of the outcomes of
subgroup comparisons. Results. Sixteen systematic reviews were appraised. Overall,
themethodological quality was low and external validity weak. For acute LBP, evidence that
acupuncture has a more favorable effect than sham acupuncture in relieving pain was
inconsistent; it had a similar effect on improving function. For chronic LBP,evidence
consistently demonstrated that acupuncture provides short-term clinically relevant benefits for
pain relief and functional improvement compared with no treatment or acupuncture plus another
conventional intervention. Conclusion. Systematic reviews of variable quality showed that
acupuncture, either used in isolation or as an adjunct to conventional therapy, provides short-
term improvements in pain and function for chronic LBP. More efforts are needed to improve
both internal and external validity of systematic reviews and RCTs in this area.

2ARTICLE ABSTRACTS
Acupuncture for chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled feasibility
trial comparing treatment session numbers
- Lizhou Liu1, Margot A Skinner, Suzanne M McDonough and G David
Baxter
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of a randomized controlled trial investigating the optimal
number of treatment sessions of acupuncture, used as an adjunct to usual care, for managing
chronic low back pain. Methods: In total, 45 participants with chronic low back pain were
recruited and randomly allocated to receive usual care plus 4, 7, or 10 sessions of acupuncture
(15/group). Primary outcomes were recruitment rate, randomization rate, treatment compliance,
completion of the outcome measures, and retention rates. Secondary outcomes included back
function, pain intensity and bothersomeness, generic health status, activity disability, and
participant satisfaction. Data were collected at baseline and discharge, and at 6 and 12 weeks
post randomization. Results: The recruitment method was demonstrated to be successful:
recruitment rate was 43.7%, and randomization rate was 100%. Compliance with treatment was
high among participants (86.7%, 86.7%, and 100% for the 4-, 7-, and 10-session group,
respectively). Outcome questionnaires used in this study were found to be appropriate for a
future randomized controlled trial. Participant retention rates were 88.9% at discharge and at 6
weeks post randomization and 84.4% at 12 weeks post randomization. Secondary outcomes
(except for pain intensity) favored the 10-session acupuncture group at 12 weeks post
randomization. Over 90% of participants indicated that they were “very satisfied” and/or

3ARTICLE ABSTRACTS
“extremely satisfied” with the acupuncture treatment. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that
a full-scale randomized controlled trial using the methodology described above is feasible, and
such a trial is essential to test the dose dependence of acupuncture.

4ARTICLE ABSTRACTS
Effective chronic low back pain and knee pain treatment with acupuncture in
geriatric patients
- Cemal £evika, Afitap Amlb and Sevgin Ozlem l§eric’
Abstract.
BACKGROUND: The most common disease of the older age group in Turkey is degenerative
articular disease and pain associated with the disease. Analgesics and physical therapy are
preferred treatment for geriatric chronic pain but suffering from multiple medical and nutritional
problems in old ages can limit treatment options with analgesics due to an increased risk of
adverse effects and drug interactions. OBJECTIVES: We aim to show the effect of acupuncture
on back-pain and knee-pain treatment of elderly people. METHODS: The study includes 34
patients, 24 female and 8 male. The mean age was 69.0417 ± 8.95 years for females and 73.12 ±
8.95.24 years for males. Every two days for a total of 10 sessions acupuncture treatment to
Yintang, Ht 7 (Shenmen), LI 4 (Hegu), Ki 3 (Taixi) and Ki 6 were found to significantly reduce
pain scores of patients. RESULTS: Mean back pain scores (8.8696 ± 1.546) and mean knee pain
scores (9.1304 ± 1.4239) of patients were reduced significantly to 2.1739 ± 1.466 and 1.455 ±
0.7; p < 0.001 respectively after the acupuncture treatment. CONCLUSION: These are important
results as they give rationale to use acupuncture treatment widely in chronic low back pain and
knee pain in the geriatric group of patients to reduce the side effects of polypharmacy in elderly.