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Research Reviews:
Better Health Through Better Information

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Chronic Low Back Pain
Low back pain (LBP) is a common musculoskeletal disorder among adults and approximately 1 in 4 people seek medical attention in a 6-month period. 1 It has been estimated that around 50% of the population will experience LBP by the age of 30, whereas 70% of the population will experience LBP at one point in their adulthood. 1 The majority of symptoms resolve within 1 month, but between 10% and 40% of patients develop chronic symptoms lasting more than 6 weeks.1 In many cases the underlying cause of the pain is unknown, a condition referred to as non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP).
A systematic review published in 2013 concluded: “Acupuncture may be effective for pain and functional limitation in chronic non-specific lower back pain”.1
In 2017, The American College of Physicians updated their clinical practice guidelines, making a strong recommendation for the use of acupuncture in both chronic and acute low back pain.2
Numerous systematic reviews on acupuncture for chronic low back pain have been conducted in USA by the Assessment of Health Research Quality (AHRQ)3, The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER)4, The American College of Physicians5, in Europe by The European Spine Society6 and in New Zealand by the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC)7. Acupuncture has been consistently found to improve both pain and function in chronic low back pain, when used either alone or as an adjunct to conventional care. Acupuncture has been found to be a cost-effective treatment option8 and electroacupuncture has been found to be more cost effective than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS).9 Acupuncture may also reduce the need for lumbar surgery.10
The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is currently conducting a National Coverage Analysis for acupuncture in the treatment of chronic low back pain, to decide whether Medicare should cover acupuncture for chronic low back pain for 16 million US senior citizens. Their research found 8 systematic reviews/ meta-analyses undertaken in the previous five years studying acupuncture for chronic low back pain and all 8 found acupuncture to be effective. 11
References
1. Lam M, Galvin R, Curry P. Effectiveness of acupuncture for nonspecific chronic low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2013;38(24):2124-38.
2. Qaseem A, Wilt TJ, McLean RM, Forciea MA. Noninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians. Annals of internal medicine. 2017;166(7):514-30.
3. Chou R, Deyo R, Friedly J, Skelly A, Hashimoto R, Weimer M, et al. AHRQ Comparative Effectiveness Reviews. Noninvasive Treatments for Low Back Pain. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2016.
4. Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (2017) Cognitive and Mind-Body Therapies for Chronic Low Back and Neck Pain: Effectiveness and Value – Final Evidence Report https://icerreview.org/wpcontent/uploads/2017/03/CTAF_LBNP_Final_Evidence_Report_110617.pdf
5. Chou R, Deyo R, Friedly J, Skelly A, Hashimoto R, Weimer M, et al. Nonpharmacologic Therapies for Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review for an American College of Physicians Clinical Practice Guideline. Annals of internal medicine. 2017;166(7):493-505.
6. Oliveira CB, Maher CG, Pinto RZ, Traeger AC, Lin CC, Chenot JF, et al. Clinical practice guidelines for the management of non-specific low back pain in primary care: an updated overview. Eur Spine J. 2018;27(11):2791-803.
7. The International Centre for Allied Health Evidence (2018). Effectiveness and Safety of Acupuncture Interventions for the Treatment of Musculoskeletal Conditions. Technical Report. Prepared for the Accident Compensation Corporation, New Zealand. https://www.acc.co.nz/assets/research/2b0c243f75/acupuncture-musculoskeletal-conditions-review.pdf
8. Andronis L, Kinghorn P, Qiao S, Whitehurst DG, Durrell S, McLeod H. Cost-Effectiveness of Non-Invasive and Non-Pharmacological Interventions for Low Back Pain: a Systematic Literature Review. Applied health economics and health policy. 2016.
9. Toroski M, Nikfar S, Mojahedian MM, Ayati MH. Comparison of the Cost-utility Analysis of Electroacupuncture and Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs in the Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain. Journal of acupuncture and meridian studies. 2018;11(2):62-6.
10. Koh W, Kang K, Lee YJ, Kim MR, Shin JS, Lee J, et al. Impact of acupuncture treatment on the lumbar surgery rate for low back pain in Korea: A nationwide matched retrospective cohort study. PloS one. 2018;13(6):e0199042.
11. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Proposed National Coverage Determination for Acupuncture for Chronic Low Back Pain (CAG-00452N) July 15th, 2019. https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/details/nca-proposed-decision-memo.aspx?NCAId=295

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Hot Flashes in Natural Menopause

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Osteoarthritis

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Neck Pain

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   Acute Ankle Sprain


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Fibromyalgia

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   Carpal Tunnel Syndrome


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Acute Lower Back Pain

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Purchase your CEU/PDA courses by following our affiliate’s links here and help us fund all our projects!
 
We  offer courses from  Brad Whisnant Seminars with 20% of the proceeds donated to the ANF when you click their link (underlined) or the logo to the right and also courses from Healthy Seminars with 10% of proceeds donated to the ANF when you click their link (underlined) or their logo to the right."
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The Acupuncture Now Foundation, © 2020
  • Home
  • About
    • About the ANF
    • Officers and Advisors >
      • Matthew Bauer
      • John McDonald
      • Gayle Bauer
      • Neil Malley
      • Ben Maloney
      • Lianne Aquilina
      • Katherine Berry
      • Johanna Biemans
      • Lorne Brown
      • Charlie Buck
      • Xia Cheng
      • Peter Deadman
      • Jennifer Dubowsky
      • Reginaldo Filho
      • Val Finnell
      • Mel Hopper Koppelman
      • Stephen Janz
      • Hugh MacPherson
      • Patty McBride
      • Christian Nix
      • Michael Smith
      • Bob Wong
      • Mike Worley
      • Amos Ziv
      • Jacinta Eales
      • Julia Scott
    • Media
    • Contributing Columnists for Acupuncture Now News
    • Contact
    • Support Us >
      • Join the ANF
      • Donate
      • Sponsors and Donors
  • About Acupuncture
    • FAQ
    • About Acupuncture
    • Documentary - Getting to the Point
    • Twice as Effective and Safer
    • Podcasts
  • Find an Acupuncturist
    • Australia
    • Canada
    • New Zealand
    • USA
    • UK
    • Acupuncture in Hospitals
  • Research
    • Research Reviews >
      • Chronic Low Back Pain
      • Hot Flashes in Natural Menopause
      • Osteoarthritis
      • Acute Ankle Sprain
      • Neck Pain
      • Fibromyalgia
      • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
      • Acute Lower Back Pain
    • Research Resources
    • White Papers >
      • Printable Copy
    • Submissions to Government Agencies
    • Challenges with Acupuncture Research >
      • Putting Acupuncture Research into Perspective
  • For Acupuncturists
    • Blog
    • NICE Guideline Submission
    • Resources
  • Google Ads Campaign