Acupuncture as an alternative or in addition to conventional treatment for chronic non-specific low back pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
OrthoEvidence Journal (OE Journal) - ACE Report
OE Journal. 2024;12(9):55 Integr Med Res . 2023 Sep;12(3):100972.What this means for my practice?
Clinicians should remember that while acupuncture alone may not be more effective than conventional treatments for chronic non-specific low back pain, it shows promise as an adjunctive treatment. Acupuncture can significantly improve outcomes when combined with other treatment modalities. It is important to consider acupuncture as a viable option in the management of chronic low back pain, particularly for patients seeking alternatives to pharmacological treatments. The main limitation of the paper is the varied and sometimes low certainty of evidence across different studies, highlighting the need for further high-quality research.
Study Summary
This systematic review and meta-analysis included ten randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 2122 participants comparing acupuncture alone versus conventional therapy and four RCTs with 374 participants comparing acupuncture plus conventional therapy to conventional therapy alone for chronic non-specific low back pain. Pooled outcomes of interest included pain intensity and disability. No significant differences were found when comparing acupuncture alone with non-pharmacological or pharmacological therapies. However, when acupuncture was combined with non-pharmacological or pharmacological therapies, both pain and disability were significantly reduced. These findings suggest that acupuncture, particularly when combined with other therapies, may be beneficial for reducing pain and disability in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain.
Unlock the Full ACE Report
You have access to 4 more FREE articles this month.
Click below to unlock and view this ACE Reports
Unlock Now
Critical appraisals of the latest, high-impact randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews in orthopaedics
Access to OrthoEvidence podcast content, including collaborations with the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, interviews with internationally recognized surgeons, and roundtable discussions on orthopaedic news and topics
Subscription to The Pulse, a twice-weekly evidence-based newsletter designed to help you make better clinical decisions
Exclusive access to original content articles, including in-house systematic reviews, and articles on health research methods and hot orthopaedic topics
Or upgrade today and gain access to all OrthoEvidencecontent for as little as $1.99 per week.
Already have an account? Log in
Are you affiliated with one of our partner associations?
Click here to gain complimentary access as part your association member benefits!
0 of 4 monthly FREE articles unlocked
