Gua sha therapy for chronic low back pain: A protocol for systematic review

Area of Science:

• Integrative and Complementary Medicine
• Pain Management
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Non-specific chronic low back pain (LBP) significantly impairs daily function and quality of life.
• Gua sha therapy is a widely used, noninvasive complementary treatment for LBP.
• Evidence on gua sha therapy's benefits and harms for chronic LBP requires systematic evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize evidence on the efficacy and safety of gua sha therapy for non-specific chronic LBP.
• To evaluate the potential benefits and harms of gua sha therapy in managing chronic LBP.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature search across multiple databases (English, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Brazilian) up to September 2019.
• Inclusion of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) where gua sha was used as monotherapy or adjunctive therapy.
• Independent data extraction and risk of bias assessment using Cochrane criteria by two reviewers.
• Meta-analysis to be conducted using Review Manager 5.3 software.

Main Results:

• Study findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.
• The review aims to present synthesized data on the effectiveness and safety of gua sha therapy.

Conclusions:

• This systematic review will offer robust evidence on the clinical application of gua sha therapy for non-specific chronic LBP.
• The findings will inform healthcare providers and patients about the role of gua sha in LBP management.