title: Exercise and Auricular Acupuncture for Chronic Low-back Pain: A Feasibility Randomized-controlled Trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the feasibility of a randomized-controlled trial (RCT) investigating the effects of adding auricular acupuncture (AA) to exercise for participants with chronic low-back pain (CLBP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants with CLBP were recruited from primary care and a university population and were randomly allocated (n=51) to 1 of 2 groups: (1) "Exercise Alone (E)"-12-week program consisting of 6 weeks of supervised exercise followed by 6 weeks unsupervised exercise (n=27); or (2) "Exercise and AA (EAA)"-12-week exercise program and AA (n=24). Outcome measures were recorded at baseline, week 8, week 13, and 6 months. The primary outcome measure was the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants in the EAA group demonstrated a greater mean improvement of 10.7% points (95% confidence interval, -15.3,-5.7) (effect size=1.20) in the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire at 6 months compared with 6.7% points (95% confidence interval, -11.4,-1.9) in the E group (effect size=0.58). There was also a trend towards a greater mean improvement in quality of life, LBP intensity and bothersomeness, and fear-avoidance beliefs in the EAA group. The dropout rate for this trial was lower than anticipated (15% at 6 mo), adherence with exercise was similar (72% E; 65% EAA). Adverse effects for AA ranged from 1% to 14% of participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings of this study showed that a main RCT is feasible and that 56 participants per group would need to be recruited, using multiple recruitment approaches. AA was safe and demonstrated additional benefits when combined with exercise for people with CLBP, which requires confirmation in a fully powered RCT.
authors.affiliation: Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Research Institute and School of Health Sciences, Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: Ruth F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.forename: Suzanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: McDonough
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bradbury
authors.forename: Sarah Dianne
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Liddle
authors.forename: Deirdre M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dhamija
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Glasgow
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gormley
authors.forename: Siobhan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: McCann
authors.forename: Jongbae
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Deirdre A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Hurley
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Delitto
authors.forename: George David
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Baxter
mesh_terms: D020831:Acupuncture, Ear / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D001416:Back Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011788:Quality of Life; D018401:Sample Size; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome