Comparing the efficacy of two different temperature stimulation in warm acupuncture on acute low back pain: A randomized controlled trial

Background: Warm acupuncture, a combination of the mechanical stimulation of acupuncture and ther-mal stimulation of moxibustion, is commonly used in treating acute low back pain (LBP). This trial aimed to compare the efficacy of stronger (above 43 degrees C) and weaker (above 40 degrees C) heat stimulation in warm acupuncture on the function and pain in patients with acute LBP due to lumbosacral disc degeneration (LDD). Methods: One hundred and fifty-nine adults were randomly assigned to receive warm acupuncture treat-ment with silver needle (SvN) or with stainless steel needle (SSN) (1:1). Both groups received a 3-week therapy with 3 sessions per week. The primary outcome was the modified Oswestry Disability Index at week 4. The secondary outcomes included average pain, three physical sign tests and adverse events. Participants were followed up at week 16 and week 28 after randomization. Results: The LBP related disability and pain intensity significantly relieved more in the SvN warm acupuncture group than in the SSN group, in both the short and long term ( p < 0.001). The between-groups difference in physical signs showed statistical significance only in the short term ( p = 0.024), but not in long term ( p = 0.081; p = 0.069). Conclusion: Compared with warm acupuncture with stainless-steel needle at above 40 degrees C, warm acupunc-ture with silver needle at above 43 degrees C relieved more disability and pain in patients with acute LBP due to LDD. (C) 2021 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine.

Automated summary

This study compared the efficacy of stronger and weaker heat stimulation in warm acupuncture for patients with acute low back pain. The results showed that warm acupuncture with silver needle significantly relieved disability and pain intensity in both the short and long term compared to warm acupuncture with stainless steel needle.