Effectiveness and safety of motion-style acupuncture treatment using traction for inpatients with acute low back pain caused by a traffic accident: A randomized controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of traction-style motion acupuncture (T-MSAT) combined with integrative Korean medicine treatment (IKMT) for acute low back pain (LBP) caused by traffic accidents.
Results Summary
T-MSAT combined with IKMT significantly reduced initial pain faster than conventional IKMT alone, with no severe adverse events reported. However, long-term outcomes (12-week follow-up) showed no significant differences between groups.
Population
100 patients with acute LBP occurring within 1 week of a traffic accident.
Effective Dosage
Applied for 3 consecutive days after admission.
Duration
3 days (with follow-up at 12 weeks).
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
motion-style acupuncture treatment (MSAT) | decrease | pain | - | - | is effective in relieving | #1 |
combined T-MSAT and integrative Korean medicine treatment (IKMT) | decrease | NRS score for LBP | patients with acute LBP caused by a TA | 0.94 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.40-1.48) | showed a significantly lower | #2 |
combined T-MSAT and integrative Korean medicine treatment (IKMT) | decrease | visual analogue scale (VAS) scores | patients with acute LBP caused by a TA | -46.86 [95% CI -85.13 to -8.59] | showed a significant difference in | #3 |
combined T-MSAT and integrative Korean medicine treatment (IKMT) | increase | recovery (30% pain reduction) | patients with acute LBP caused by a TA | log-rank test P = .005 | achieved more rapidly | #4 |
combined T-MSAT and integrative Korean medicine treatment (IKMT) | no change | NRS, VAS, Oswestry disability index, and quality of life scores | patients with acute LBP caused by a TA | - | showed no significant difference in | #5 |
combined T-MSAT and integrative Korean medicine treatment (IKMT) | no change | adverse events (AEs) | patients with acute LBP caused by a TA | rates of mild adverse events (AEs) were comparable | is a safe treatment | #6 |
combined T-MSAT and integrative Korean medicine treatment (IKMT) | decrease | initial pain | patients with LBP | - | can effectively and quickly reduce | #7 |
BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal symptoms, such as neck pain and low back pain (LBP) are common after a traffic accident (TA). While motion-style acupuncture treatment (MSAT) is effective in relieving pain, MSAT using traction (T-MSAT) has rarely been studied, and evidence for its efficacy and safety is lacking. To address this gap, this study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of T-MSAT for pain and functional disturbances in patients with acute LBP caused by a TA. METHODS: This two-armed, parallel, assessor blinded randomized controlled trial, conducted at Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine, included 100 patients with acute LBP occurring within 1 week of a TA. The participants were randomly allocated (1:1 ratio) to receive either combined T-MSAT and integrative Korean medicine treatment (IKMT) or only conventional IKMT, applied for 3 consecutive days after admission. The primary outcome was the difference between numerical rating scale (NRS) scores for LBP at baseline and after treatment completion on day 4 after admission. RESULTS: At the primary endpoint, the difference in NRS scores for LBP between the T-MSAT and control groups was 0.94 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.40-1.48). The T-MSAT group showed a significantly lower NRS score for LBP than the control group. Differences in visual analogue scale (VAS) scores between the T-MSAT and control groups were significant at baseline and discharge. The area under the curve of the VAS score showed a significant difference (-46.86 [95% CI -85.13 to -8.59]), indicating faster pain reduction in the T-MSAT group than in the control group. Recovery (30% pain reduction) was achieved more rapidly in the T-MSAT group than in the control group (log-rank test P = .005). Meanwhile, the NRS, VAS, Oswestry disability index, and quality of life scores at discharge or at the 12-week follow-up showed no significant difference. The rates of mild adverse events (AEs) were comparable between the groups. No severe AEs were reported, and none of the AEs were associated with the clinical trial. CONCLUSIONS: T-MSAT combined with IKMT is a safe treatment that can effectively and quickly reduce initial pain in patients with LBP.