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Trigger Point Acupuncture and Exercise for Chronic Low Back Pain in Older Adult: a Preliminary Randomized Clinical
Yoichi Minakawa1,2, Shogo Miyazaki1,2, Hideaki Waki1,2
1Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Faculty of Health Care, Teikyo Heisei University, Tokyo, Japan.
Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies
|June 30, 2022
Summary
Trigger point acupuncture combined with exercise therapy may improve chronic low back pain in older adults more effectively than exercise alone. This approach could benefit elderly individuals who struggle with consistent exercise due to pain.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Pain Management
- Physical Therapy
Background:
- Exercise therapy is a primary non-pharmacological treatment for musculoskeletal pain.
- Fear-avoidance behaviors can hinder exercise adherence.
- Trigger point acupuncture (TrPAcp) shows potential for reducing musculoskeletal pain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of exercise combined with TrPAcp versus exercise alone for older adults with chronic low back pain (CLBP).
- To address CLBP, a prevalent issue among the elderly in Japan.
Main Methods:
- A single-center randomized controlled trial involving 15 participants aged 65 and above with CLBP.
- Participants were assigned to either exercise plus TrPAcp (Ex+TrPAcp) or exercise alone (Ex) for 3 months.
- Pain intensity was measured using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), with improvement defined as NRS decrease ≥ 2 or NRS < 4.
Main Results:
- The Ex+TrPAcp group showed improvement in 6 out of 7 patients, compared to 1 out of 7 in the Ex group (p = 0.03).
- A significant difference in improvement was observed between the groups (phi = 0.71).
- Minor adverse events (heaviness) were reported in one patient (14.3%) receiving acupuncture.
Conclusions:
- Exercise combined with trigger point acupuncture appears more effective than exercise alone for older adults with CLBP.
- This combined therapy may be particularly beneficial for elderly patients who lack a consistent exercise habit.
