Acupuncture for Controlling Pain in Multiple Areas
Acupuncture for controlling pain in multiple areas has been utilized by Asian societies for thousands of years. It utilizes thin metallic needles to penetrate the skin which are manipulated by the hands or by applying electric stimulation. Acupuncture demonstrated significant benefit in control of pain in several conditions which include neck pain, low back pain, osteoarthritis, and one study has also been included on pain relief in lithotripsy for kidney stones. Acupuncture for controlling pain in multiple areas may be beneficial for many other disease conditions and different types of pain.
Acupuncture for Neck Pain:
Trinh et al reviewed 10 trials with 661 participants and examined the effects of acupuncture on neck pain for individuals with chronic neck pain (lasting for at least three months, one study lasted 6 weeks). Acupuncture was compared to sham acupuncture, waiting list, other sham treatments (sham laser, sham TENS) or other treatments (mobilization, massage, traction). Individuals with chronic neck pain who received acupuncture reported, on average, better pain relief immediately after treatment and in the short-term than those who received sham treatments. Individuals with chronic neck pain with symptoms radiating to the arms who received acupuncture reported, on average, better pain relief in the short-term than those who were on a waiting list (1).
Acupuncture for Chronic Low Back Pain:
Brinkhaus et al noted acupuncture to be more effective at reducing pain than no acupuncture in a study that included 298 patients (67% female) with chronic low back pain. Individuals were randomly assigned to acupuncture, minimal acupuncture (superficial needling at non- acupuncture points), or a waiting list control. Acupuncture and minimal acupuncture consisted of 12 sessions per patient over 8 weeks. Pain was rated using a scale of 0-100. After 8 weeks, pain intensity had decreased by an average of 28.7 in the acupuncture group, 23.6 in the minimal acupuncture group, and 6.9 in the waiting list group. There was no significant difference in pain intensity between acupuncture and minimal acupuncture at weeks 26 and 52 (2).
Acupuncture for Controlling Pain in Osteoarthritis
Acupuncture and osteoarthritis: Witt et al evaluated acupuncture treatment of osteoarthritis pain. Acupuncture improved osteoarthritis (OA) severity (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index [WOMAC]) and health-related quality of life (Short Form 36). In this 3-month study, 357 were randomized to the acupuncture group (acupuncture plus standard care) and 355 to the control group (standard care only) and 2,921 were included in the nonrandomized acupuncture group. After 3 months, quality of life greater improvement for the acupuncture group, compared to control group. Additionally, WOMAC had improved an average of 17.6 in the acupuncture group and 0.9 in the control group. The benefits of acupuncture were maintained at 6 months (3).
