Acupuncture Treatment Proven to Reduce Back Pain

A study done by the National Institute of Health said that nearly 80 percent of people will suffer from some type of lower back pain during their lifetime.  Currently, more people are seeking natural healing methods as opposed to prescribed medication or surgery to treat back pain.  A study released in the British Medical Journal said that patients who experienced 10 sessions of acupuncture had less back pain after a 24-month follow up.  Researchers studied 241 people between the ages of 18 and 65 who experienced some type of consistent back pain.  One group was treated with typical treatment such as medication and exercises, while the other group was treated with 10 acupuncture sessions.  The results showed that patients were more satisfied with acupuncture treatment and had less concern about their back pain.  Researchers said that acupuncture was an effective way to treat persistent back pain. 

Additional Information

Acupuncture treatment is most effective when frequent sessions are followed by weekly visits as pain begins to decrease.  This gives the patient the opportunity to provide their feedback about the treatment to the acupuncture specialist.  If the acupuncture sessions aren’t working, the physician can refer the patient to another specialist or provide an alternative treatment.  Additional treatment may consist of aerobic exercises, yoga, or balancing and strengthening exercises.