07/05/2024
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Back pain was one of the conditions included in a large systematic review, along with osteoarthritis of the knee, neck pain, migraine, tension headache, and shoulder pain.
As far as we are aware, this is the largest high-quality systematic review that evaluates acupuncture for any condition. In summary, the Acupuncture for Chronic Pain: Update of an Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis is the most reliable assessment of acupuncture to date.
For the above chronic pain conditions the review found:
• acupuncture is superior to ‘no acupuncture controls’
• acupuncture is superior to placebo
• the clinically relevant effects of acupuncture on chronic pain persist overtime
• referral for acupuncture treatment is a reasonable option for chronic pain patients
The British Acupuncture Council is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority, therefore GPs are permitted to refer patients to BAcC registered practitioners.
We have research fact sheets for back pain, neck pain, osteoarthritis, facial pain, headache, fibromyalgia plus more on our website.
*A reduction in pain of 50% or more.
**Other treatments: medication or physio therapy or exercise and advice.
[1] Vickers AJ, Vertosick EA, Lewith G, et al. Acupuncture for Chronic Pain: Update of an Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis. J Pain 2018;19(5):455-74. doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2017.11.005 / https://www.jpain.org/article/S1526-5900(17)30780-0/fulltext
