Acupuncture for Low Back Pain: An Overview of Systematic Reviews
Joint Authors
Liu, Lizhou
Skinner, Margot
McDonough, Suzanne
Mabire, Leon
Baxter, David
Source
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Issue
Vol. 2015, Issue 2015 (31 Dec. 2015), pp.1-18, 18 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2015-03-04
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
18
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
Objective.
As evidence of the effectiveness of acupuncture for low back pain (LBP) is inconsistent, we aimed to critically appraise the evidence from relevant systematic reviews.
Methods.
Systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) concerning acupuncture and LBP were searched in seven databases.
Internal validity and external validity of systematic reviews were assessed.
Systematic reviews were categorized and high quality reviews assigned greater weightings.
Conclusions were generated from a narrative synthesis of the outcomes of subgroup comparisons.
Results.
Sixteen systematic reviews were appraised.
Overall, the methodological quality was low and external validity weak.
For acute LBP, evidence that acupuncture has a more favorable effect than sham acupuncture in relieving pain was inconsistent; it had a similar effect on improving function.
For chronic LBP, evidence consistently demonstrated that acupuncture provides short-term clinically relevant benefits for pain relief and functional improvement compared with no treatment or acupuncture plus another conventional intervention.
Conclusion.
Systematic reviews of variable quality showed that acupuncture, either used in isolation or as an adjunct to conventional therapy, provides short-term improvements in pain and function for chronic LBP.
More efforts are needed to improve both internal and external validity of systematic reviews and RCTs in this area.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Liu, Lizhou& Skinner, Margot& McDonough, Suzanne& Mabire, Leon& Baxter, David. 2015. Acupuncture for Low Back Pain: An Overview of Systematic Reviews. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine،Vol. 2015, no. 2015, pp.1-18.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1061361
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Liu, Lizhou…[et al.]. Acupuncture for Low Back Pain: An Overview of Systematic Reviews. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine No. 2015 (2015), pp.1-18.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1061361
American Medical Association (AMA)
Liu, Lizhou& Skinner, Margot& McDonough, Suzanne& Mabire, Leon& Baxter, David. Acupuncture for Low Back Pain: An Overview of Systematic Reviews. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2015. Vol. 2015, no. 2015, pp.1-18.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1061361
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-1061361