Effect of laser acupuncture on pain and density of bone in osteoporotic postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of laser acupuncture combined with calcium and vitamin D supplementation on forearm bone mineral density and wrist pain in osteoporotic postmenopausal women.
Results Summary
The study found significant improvements in forearm BMD and wrist pain in both groups, with greater improvements observed in the group receiving laser acupuncture alongside calcium and vitamin D supplementation. The drug/LA group showed a more pronounced improvement in BMD (-1.303 vs. -0.247) and pain reduction (4.15 vs. 3.26) compared to the drug-only group.
Population
Osteoporotic postmenopausal women (n=68).
Effective Dosage
Calcium and vitamin D3 supplement containing fluoride (daily for 12 weeks).
Duration
12 weeks.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
calcium and vitamin D 3 supplement containing fluoride | increase | T-score of forearm BMD | osteoporotic postmenopausal women | -2.844 ± 0.476 to -2.597 ± 0.478 | highly significant improvement | #1 |
calcium and vitamin D 3 supplement containing fluoride | decrease | visual analog scale score | osteoporotic postmenopausal women | 7.50 ± 0.79 to 4.24 ± 1.07 | highly significant improvement | #2 |
laser acupuncture (LA) therapy in addition to calcium and vitamin D 3 supplement containing fluoride | increase | T-score of forearm BMD | osteoporotic postmenopausal women | -2.944 ± 0.486 to -1.652 ± 0.728 | highly significant improvement | #3 |
laser acupuncture (LA) therapy in addition to calcium and vitamin D 3 supplement containing fluoride | decrease | visual analog scale score | osteoporotic postmenopausal women | 7.24 ± 0.82 to 3.09 ± 0.75 | highly significant improvement | #4 |
laser acupuncture (LA) therapy in addition to calcium and vitamin D 3 supplement containing fluoride | increase | BMD | osteoporotic postmenopausal women | -1.303 | improvement was significantly higher | #5 |
laser acupuncture (LA) therapy in addition to calcium and vitamin D 3 supplement containing fluoride | decrease | pain score | osteoporotic postmenopausal women | 4.15 | improvement was significantly higher | #6 |
calcium and vitamin D 3 supplement containing fluoride | increase | BMD | osteoporotic postmenopausal women | -0.247 | improvement | #7 |
calcium and vitamin D 3 supplement containing fluoride | decrease | pain score | osteoporotic postmenopausal women | 3.26 | improvement | #8 |
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the value of laser acupuncture (LA) on forearm bone mineral density (BMD) and wrist pain in osteoporotic postmenopausal women. METHODS: Sixty-eight postmenopausal women diagnosed with osteoporosis were randomly allocated equally to one of two sets. The drug-only group received calcium and vitamin D 3 supplement containing fluoride daily for 12 weeks, whereas the drug/LA group received LA therapy for 20 minutes per session, three sessions weekly, in addition to the same supplementation. The primary outcome parameter was assessment of BMD of the nondominant arm. Other outcomes included wrist pain. RESULTS: There was a highly significant improvement in the T-score of forearm BMD in both groups (-2.844 ± 0.476 to -2.597 ± 0.478 and -2.944 ± 0.486 to -1.652 ± 0.728 in the drug-only and drug/LA groups, respectively; P < 0.0001) and visual analog scale score (7.50 ± 0.79 to 4.24 ± 1.07 and 7.24 ± 0.82 to 3.09 ± 0.75 in the drug-only and drug/LA group, respectively; P < 0.0001). The improvement of both BMD and pain score was significantly higher in the drug/LA group (-1.303 and 4.15) compared with the drug-only group (-0.247 and 3.26; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: LA in combination with calcium and vitamin D supplementation containing fluoride is an effective modality in improving forearm BMD and reducing pain in osteoporotic postmenopausal women.