A Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing the Effectiveness of Electroacupuncture versus Medium-Frequency Electrotherapy...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Pain Management
• Integrative Medicine

Background:

• Chronic discogenic sciatica is a debilitating condition.
• Current treatments offer variable efficacy.
• Novel therapeutic approaches are needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the short- and long-term effectiveness of electroacupuncture (EA) versus medium-frequency electrotherapy (MFE) for chronic discogenic sciatica.
• To evaluate pain intensity, disability, and medication use.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 100 participants with chronic discogenic sciatica.
• Participants received either EA or MFE for 4 weeks.
• A 28-week follow-up assessed outcomes including leg pain, low back pain, and Oswestry Disability Index.

Main Results:

• EA significantly reduced average leg pain intensity more than MFE at 4 weeks (2.30 vs 1.06 NRS points).
• Long-term follow-up at 28 weeks showed sustained significant leg pain reduction with EA (2.12 NRS points) compared to MFE (0.36 NRS points).
• No significant differences were observed in low back pain or patient global impression at 4 weeks; no serious adverse events were reported.

Conclusions:

• Electroacupuncture (EA) offers superior short- and long-term benefits for chronic discogenic sciatica compared to medium-frequency electrotherapy (MFE).
• EA demonstrates a greater efficacy in alleviating leg pain associated with sciatica.
• Further research is warranted to validate these findings.