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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2006 Sep 23;333(7569):623.
doi: 10.1136/bmj.38878.907361.7C. Epub 2006 Sep 15.

Randomised controlled trial of a short course of traditional acupuncture compared with usual care for persistent non-specific low back pain

K J Thomas  1 , H MacPherson, L Thorpe, J Brazier, M Fitter, M J Campbell, M Roman, S J Walters, J Nicholl
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Randomised controlled trial of a short course of traditional acupuncture compared with usual care for persistent non-specific low back pain

K J Thomas et al. BMJ. .

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether a short course of traditional acupuncture improves longer term outcomes for patients with persistent non-specific low back pain in primary care.

Design: Pragmatic, open, randomised controlled trial.

Setting: Three private acupuncture clinics and 18 general practices in York, England.

Participants: 241 adults aged 18-65 with non-specific low back pain of 4-52 weeks' duration.

Interventions: 10 individualised acupuncture treatments from one of six qualified acupuncturists (160 patients) or usual care only (81 patients).

Main outcome measures: The primary outcome was SF-36 bodily pain, measured at 12 and 24 months. Other outcomes included reported use of analgesics, scores on the Oswestry pain disability index, safety, and patient satisfaction.

Results: 39 general practitioners referred 289 patients of whom 241 were randomised. At 12 months average SF-36 pain scores increased by 33.2 to 64.0 in the acupuncture group and by 27.9 to 58.3 in the control group. Adjusting for baseline score and for any clustering by acupuncturist, the estimated intervention effect was 5.6 points (95% confidence interval -0.2 to 11.4) at 12 months (n = 213) and 8.0 points (2.8 to 13.2) at 24 months (n = 182). The magnitude of the difference between the groups was about 10%-15% of the final pain score in the control group. Functional disability was not improved. No serious or life threatening events were reported.

Conclusions: Weak evidence was found of an effect of acupuncture on persistent non-specific low back pain at 12 months, but stronger evidence of a small benefit at 24 months. Referral to a qualified traditional acupuncturist for a short course of treatment seems safe and acceptable to patients with low back pain.

Trial registration: ISRCTN80764175 [controlled-trials.com].

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Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1
Flow of patients through trial
Fig 2
Fig 2
Proportion of patients reporting at least one treatment (0 to 12 weeks) by treatment and allocation group
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • Acupuncture in mainstream health care.
    Wonderling D. Wonderling D. BMJ. 2006 Sep 23;333(7569):611-2. doi: 10.1136/bmj.38954.627361.BE. BMJ. 2006. PMID: 16990295 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

References

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    1. BMJ Publishing Group. Clinical evidence. Low back pain and sciatica (chronic). Feb 2003. www.clinicalevidence.com
    1. MacAuley D. Back pain and physiotherapy; NHS treatment is of little value. BMJ 2004;329: 694-5. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Furlan AD, van Tulder, M, Cherkin D, Tsukayama H, Lao L, Koes B, et al. Acupuncture and dry-needling for low back pain: an updated systematic review within the framework of the Cochrane Collaboration. Spine 2005;30: 944-63. - PubMed

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