Short-term effect of acupuncture dry needle in treatment of chronic mechanical low back pain: a randomized controlled clinical trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to assess the short-term efficacy of dry needle acupuncture in treating chronic mechanical low back pain (CMLBP) compared to muscle strengthening and stretching exercises.
Results Summary
The study found that dry needle acupuncture significantly improved flexion and extension range of motion, reduced pain intensity, and decreased functional impairment compared to the control group. Group A (acupuncture) showed superior outcomes in pain severity, functional debility, and back ROM post-treatment.
Population
30 individuals aged 20-45 with nonspecific low back pain.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
acupuncture treatment with a dry needle | increase | flexion range of motion | individuals with nonspecific low back pain | - | increased significantly | #1 |
acupuncture treatment with a dry needle | increase | extension range of motion | individuals with nonspecific low back pain | - | increased significantly | #2 |
acupuncture treatment with a dry needle | decrease | pain intensity | individuals with nonspecific low back pain | - | decreased significantly | #3 |
acupuncture treatment with a dry needle | decrease | bending to the right | individuals with nonspecific low back pain | - | decreased significantly | #4 |
acupuncture treatment with a dry needle | decrease | bending to the left | individuals with nonspecific low back pain | - | decreased significantly | #5 |
acupuncture treatment with a dry needle | decrease | functional impairment | individuals with nonspecific low back pain | - | decreased significantly | #6 |
dry needle acupuncture | decrease | chronic mechanical low back pain | those suffering from persistent mechanical low back pain | - | may be a beneficial modality in treating | #7 |
dry needle acupuncture | decrease | pain intensity | those suffering from persistent mechanical low back pain | - | relieving | #8 |
dry needle acupuncture | increase | functional debility | those suffering from persistent mechanical low back pain | - | improving | #9 |
dry needle acupuncture | increase | ROM | those suffering from persistent mechanical low back pain | - | improving | #10 |
OBJECTIVE: In today's industrialized world, between sixty and ninety percent of the working-age population experiences low back discomfort. Chronic mechanical low back pain (CMLBP), the most common ailment among working-age people in contemporary industrial society, causes a major economic burden due to the widespread use of medical services and the absence of work. For those suffering from persistent mechanical low back pain, this experiment aimed to assess the efficacy of using acupuncture dry needles in the short term. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Our research included 30 individuals with nonspecific low back pain; their ages varied from 20 to 45. The participants were divided into two parallel groups using a random process: 15 individuals in group A had acupuncture treatment with a dry needle placed to specified locations on their backs, whereas 15 individuals in group B participated in muscle strengthening and stretching exercises. Both before and after therapy, researchers examined the lumbar range of motion (ROM) in four directions: flexion, extension, bilateral side bending, as well as pain intensity and functional impairment. RESULTS: We examined the data for normality and covariance homogeneity using the Shapiro-Wilk and Box's tests, respectively. The variables of interest that were investigated were compared across various test groups and measurement periods using a 2x2 mixed design-multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). We used a significance threshold of 0.05. When comparing the two groups after treatment, it was found that the flexion and extension range of motion increased significantly (p<0.05), while the pain intensity, bending to the right and left, and functional impairment decreased significantly (p<0.05). The results of multiple pairwise comparisons showed a noteworthy difference in pain severity, functional debility, and back ROM between the two groups before and after treatment (p<0.05), with group A showing an advantage over group B after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the study results, dry needle acupuncture may be a beneficial modality in treating chronic mechanical low back pain by relieving pain intensity, improving functional debility, and improving ROM.