The Effect of Acupuncture on Low Back Pain

Author(s): Yount, R.

Journal/Book: American Journal of Chinese Medicine. 1974; 2 (4): 421-428.

Abstract: Unknown etiology of low back pain by acupuncture in four groups: Group I (no surgery); Group II (one laminectomy); Group III (more than one laminectomy with or without spinal fusion) and Group IV (one or more than one laminectomy with severance of nerve between central nerve system and peripheral nerve). Twenty patients in each group, except ten in Group IV, were treated twice a week for six weeks.Functional improvement and decreased sensitivity to weather was significant. Results were evaluated into four classes: Class 3 (no pain, no drugs, no functional disability); Class 2 (pain, no drugs; no functional disability); Class 1 (pain with drug less one-half than it was before treatment; improvement of functional disability) and Class 0 (no effect on pain; drug and functional disability). Completely well (Class 3) patients in Groups I, II, III and IV were 50%, 35%, 30% and 20%, respectively. Their prognosis was followed up to 2 months.Reduction of drugs (aspirin preparation, synthetic analgesics, narcotics, tranquillizers, and muscle relaxants) intake, pain and functional improvement was observed. Overall drug reduction after treatment was 85.6%, 75%, 61.6%, 53.2% in Groups I, II, III, and IV, respectively. Mean reduction of each individual drug; aspirin-69%, synthetic analgesic-67.7%, narcotic-72.2%, tranquillizers-75.2%, and muscle relaxants-60%, were observed.

Keyword(s): Clinical trial

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