A new study shows that acupuncture can help older adults with chronic low back pain feel better and move more easily.
The research, published in JAMA Network Open, found that people aged 65 and older who received acupuncture had less pain and improved physical function compared to those who only received standard medical care like medications or physical therapy.
Chronic low back pain is one of the most common reasons for disability in older adults. It affects more than one-third of older Americans and is often hard to treat.
Current treatments, such as painkillers or physical therapy, usually only help a little. That’s why researchers are looking for new ways to treat this condition that are safe and don’t cause addiction.
The clinical trial, called BackInAction, included 800 people aged 65 and older who had experienced back pain for at least three months.
Participants either received usual care or acupuncture in addition to usual care. Some people got up to 15 acupuncture sessions in three months, and others received extra treatments in the following three months.
Acupuncture is a traditional East Asian treatment where very thin needles are placed at specific points on the body. It’s been used in the U.S. since the 1970s and is known to help with various types of pain. In this study, it was tested to see if it could safely help older people with long-term back pain.
At three, six, and 12 months after starting the study, participants rated their pain and how it affected their daily lives.
The results showed that people who received acupuncture had less pain and disability and could move around better than those who did not. They also reported feeling less anxious.
The study was carefully designed to reflect real-life settings. Licensed community acupuncturists treated the participants, and the study included people from many parts of the U.S. to ensure it matched the general population.
Importantly, very few side effects were reported, and the treatment was safe for people who often have other health problems.
The researchers believe making acupuncture easier to access—such as allowing Medicare to pay acupuncturists directly—could help more older adults benefit from this treatment.
This study shows that acupuncture may be a useful and safe option for managing back pain in older adults.
The study is published in JAMA Network Open.
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