Acupuncture Relieves Back Pain

An interesting article in the New York Times reported acupuncture is more effective than drugs for back pain, the result of one of the largest studies ever conducted on the subject. According to the article:

Six months of acupuncture provides more relief for back pain than conventional treatments, according to a large new study. But surprisingly, fake acupuncture works just as well as the real thing.

The German study of nearly 1,200 patients, published today in the Archives of Internal Medicine, is the largest and most rigorous analysis yet of the use of acupuncture to treat back pain. Some of the patients received real acupuncture, which involves inserting thin needles deeply into the skin at specific points on the body. The acupuncturist then manipulates the needles to create a numb radiating sensation called de qi.

Another group received sham acupuncture: the needles were inserted around the back and legs, but only superficially, without manipulation and at points that aren’t traditional acupuncture sites. A third group received treatments based on their doctors’ recommendations, including physical therapy, massage and exercise.

All the study participants met regularly with their doctors, and each patient’s response to treatment was measured on a pain scale, as was the amount of pain medication required.

Though they comment that the "fake" acupuncture worked just as well, actually there were some significant advantages to the "real" points:

Nearly half the patients in the acupuncture group reported significant relief, compared to just 27 percent in the conventional therapy group. But nearly as many people in the fake acupuncture group — 44 percent — also reported significant relief.

Real acupuncture did reduce the need for pain medicine. Only 15 percent of patients who received real acupuncture used extra pain medication, but 34 percent of patients in the sham group and 59 percent of patients in conventional therapy needed extra pain pills.

To read more of this article visit the New York Times Article Moving The Needles

Body & Soul is an award-winning massage and wellness center in Salem, MA. For more information please visit bodysoulsalem.com.
For more information on acupuncture at Body & Soul visit www.MyAcuDoc.com