Trigger point acupuncture treatment of chronic low back pain in elderly patients--a blinded RCT

Item

Title

Trigger point acupuncture treatment of chronic low back pain in elderly patients--a blinded RCT

Author(s)

Journal Publication

Date

2004

volume

22(4)

pages

170-177

Research Type

RCT

Keywords

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: There is some evidence for the efficacy of acupuncture in chronic low back pain, but it remains unclear which acupuncture modes are most effective. Our objective was to evaluate the effects of two different modes of trigger point acupuncture on pain and quality of life in chronic low back pain patients compared to standard acupuncture treatment. METHODS: Thirty five consecutive out-patients (25 women, 10 men; age range: 65-81 years) from the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Meiji University of Oriental Medicine, with non-radiating low back pain for at least six months and normal neurological examination, were randomised to one of three groups over 12 weeks. Each group received two phases of acupuncture treatment with an interval between them. Nine patients dropped out during the course of the study. The standard acupuncture group (n=9) received treatment at traditional acupuncture points for low back pain, while the other acupuncture groups received superficial (n=9) or deep (n=9) treatments on trigger points. Outcome measures were VAS pain intensity and Roland Morris Questionnaire. RESULTS: After treatment, the group that received deep needling to trigger points reported less pain intensity and improved quality of life compared to the standard acupuncture group or the group that received superficial needling to trigger points, but the differences were not statistically significant. There was a significant reduction in pain intensity between the treatment and interval in the group that received deep needling to trigger points (P<0.01), but not in the standard acupuncture group or the group that received superficial needling to trigger points. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that deep needling to trigger points may be more effective in the treatment of low back pain in elderly patients than either standard acupuncture therapy, or superficial needling to trigger points.

pmid

Date of Input: 12/16/2014; Date Modified: 12/16/2014; Availability: --In File--; Priority: Normal; Low Back Pain, Chronic; Department of Clinical Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Meiji University of Oriental Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. k_itoh@muom.meiji-u.ac.jp; eng; Web: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15628774

has health condition studied

Back Pain

plan

1/WK

has study population number

35

has duration

12 Weeks

Item sets