Research findings show acupuncture seems to have no effect on back or other types of pain and may product negative outcomes, according to a study published in Pain.
Researchers from the Universities of Exeter & Plymouth and the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine examined systematic reviews of acupuncture studies for pain relief and case reviews reporting adverse effects. Results showed various forms of acupuncture, including so-called "sham acupuncture," during which no needles actually penetrate the skin, are equally effective for chronic low back pain and more effective than standard care.
In these and other studies, the effects were attributed to such factors as therapist conviction, patient enthusiasm or the acupuncturist's communication style. What's more, in 93 cases acupuncture yielded negative outcomes, including infection (38 cases), trauma (42 cases) and other adverse effects (13 cases). Five patients died after their treatment. Many of these adverse side effects are not intrinsic to acupuncture but rather result from malpractice of acupuncturists.
Read the news release about acupuncture for back pain (pdf).
Related Article on Pain Management:
Kentucky AG Office Says County Governments Cannot Ban Pain Clinics
Opioid Pain Medications Drive "Epidemic" of Unintentional Drug Overdose Deaths
North Carolina Pain Management Physician Pleads Guilty to Healthcare Fraud
Researchers from the Universities of Exeter & Plymouth and the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine examined systematic reviews of acupuncture studies for pain relief and case reviews reporting adverse effects. Results showed various forms of acupuncture, including so-called "sham acupuncture," during which no needles actually penetrate the skin, are equally effective for chronic low back pain and more effective than standard care.
In these and other studies, the effects were attributed to such factors as therapist conviction, patient enthusiasm or the acupuncturist's communication style. What's more, in 93 cases acupuncture yielded negative outcomes, including infection (38 cases), trauma (42 cases) and other adverse effects (13 cases). Five patients died after their treatment. Many of these adverse side effects are not intrinsic to acupuncture but rather result from malpractice of acupuncturists.
Read the news release about acupuncture for back pain (pdf).
Related Article on Pain Management:
Kentucky AG Office Says County Governments Cannot Ban Pain Clinics
Opioid Pain Medications Drive "Epidemic" of Unintentional Drug Overdose Deaths
North Carolina Pain Management Physician Pleads Guilty to Healthcare Fraud