Hegu acupuncture for chronic low-back pain: a randomized controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Integrative Medicine
• Pain Management
• Evidence-Based Practice

Background:

• Acupuncture is a widely used therapy for chronic low back pain (CLBP).
• Limited research exists on the comparative effectiveness of different acupuncture modalities for CLBP.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of Hegu acupuncture and standardized acupuncture against usual care for CLBP.
• To evaluate the long-term outcomes of different acupuncture treatments for chronic low back pain.

Main Methods:

• 187 patients with CLBP were randomized into Hegu acupuncture, Standard acupuncture, or Usual Care groups.
• Eighteen treatments were administered over seven weeks, with assessments at baseline, 8 weeks, and 48 weeks.
• Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were used to measure back-related dysfunction and symptom severity.

Main Results:

• Both acupuncture groups showed significant improvements in RMDQ and VAS scores compared to the Usual Care group at 8 and 48 weeks (p<0.001).
• Hegu acupuncture resulted in significantly better outcomes than standardized acupuncture on both RMDQ and VAS scores at 8 and 48 weeks (p<0.05).
• Repeated-measures ANOVA indicated a significant difference between Hegu and standardized acupuncture groups (p<0.05).

Conclusions:

• Both Hegu and standardized acupuncture provide persistent, beneficial effects for chronic low back pain compared to usual care.
• Hegu acupuncture is more effective than standardized acupuncture for treating CLBP, especially in the long term.