There has been growing interest in the use of acupuncture for managing lumbar pain. This article will review the latest research on the effectiveness of acupuncture in managing lumbar pain.
Can Acupuncture Help with Lumbar Pain?
Yan et al. (2023) re-evaluated systematic reviews and meta-analyses on acupuncture for low back pain, finding that it can reduce pain and improve function, particularly with regular treatments over 4–12 weeks. The relief is often observed during and shortly after treatment courses. While the results are encouraging, the authors stress the need for high-quality studies to confirm long-term benefits and optimal protocols.
Kim et al. (2016) conducted a randomised pilot trial to evaluate acupuncture’s effects on lumbar spinal stenosis. The study found that acupuncture may improve walking ability, reduce pain, and enhance overall function in patients. Treatment consisted of regular sessions over 6 weeks, with noticeable improvements observed during the intervention. The authors suggest further large-scale studies to confirm these preliminary findings.
Liu et al. (2017) conducted a randomised controlled feasibility trial to explore the impact of varying acupuncture session numbers on chronic low back pain. The study found that increased session frequency (10 vs. 5 sessions) was associated with greater improvements in pain relief and function. These findings support the potential benefits of higher treatment doses and highlight the need for larger trials to refine recommendations.
Xu et al. (2013) conducted a meta-analysis of 13 randomised controlled trials to evaluate acupuncture’s long-term effects on chronic low back pain. The study found that acupuncture provides sustained pain relief and improved function compared to sham acupuncture or standard care, with benefits lasting for up to 6–12 months post-treatment. The authors suggest acupuncture as a viable long-term management option while advocating for further high-quality research.
Reference List
Kim, K. H., Kim, Y. R., Baik, S. K., Noh, S. H., Kim, D. H., Lee, S. W., & Yang, G. Y. (2016). Acupuncture for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis: a randomised pilot trial. Acupuncture in medicine : journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society, 34(4), 267–274. https://doi.org/10.1136/acupmed-2015-010962
Liu, L., Skinner, M. A., McDonough, S. M., & Baxter, G. D. (2017). Acupuncture for chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled feasibility trial comparing treatment session numbers. Clinical rehabilitation, 31(12), 1592–1603. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269215517705690
Yan, W. X., Lin, H. Z., Wang, X., Zhang, W., Liu, L. P., Yu, J. N., & Yang, T. (2023). Acupuncture for Low Back Pain: Reevaluation of Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses. Current pain and headache reports, 27(9), 351–369. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-023-01139-w
Xu, M., Yan, S., Yin, X., Li, X., Gao, S., Han, R., Wei, L., Luo, W., & Lei, G. (2013). Acupuncture for chronic low back pain in long-term follow-up: a meta-analysis of 13 randomized controlled trials. The American journal of Chinese medicine, 41(1), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1142/S0192415X13500018