title: A randomized clinical trial of auricular point acupressure for chronic low back pain: a feasibility study.
abstract: Objectives. This prospective, randomized clinical trial (RCT) was designed to investigate the feasibility and effects of a 4-week auricular point acupressure (APA) for chronic low back pain (CLBP). Methods. Participants were randomized to either true APA (true acupoints with taped seeds on the designated ear points for CLBP) or sham APA (sham acupoints with taped seeds but on different locations than those designated for CLBP). The duration of treatment was four weeks. Participants were assessed before treatment, weekly during treatment, and 1 month following treatment. Results. Participants in the true APA group who completed the 4-week APA treatment had a 70% reduction in worst pain intensity, a 75% reduction in overall pain intensity, and a 42% improvement in disability due to back pain from baseline assessment. The reductions of worst pain and overall pain intensity in the true APA group were statistically greater than participants in the sham group (P < 0.01) at the completion of a 4-week APA and 1 month followup. Discussion. The preliminary findings of this feasibility study showed a reduction in pain intensity and improvement in physical function suggesting that APA may be a promising treatment for patients with CLBP.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, 3500 Victoria Street, 440 Victoria Building, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
authors.forename: Chao Hsing
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Lung Chang
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.forename: Devora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Balaban
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sponberg
authors.forename: Jaclyn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Primavera
authors.forename: Natalia E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Morone
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Glick
authors.forename: Kathryn M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Albers
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Dianxu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Li Chun
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Lorna Kwai-Ping
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Suen
references.citation: Spine J. 2008 Jan-Feb;8(1):173-84
references.pmid: 18164465
references.citation: Spine J. 2008 Jan-Feb;8(1):266-77
references.pmid: 18164475
references.citation: Phys Ther. 1989 Jan;69(1):3-9
references.pmid: 2783493
references.citation: Arthritis Rheum. 2007 May 15;57(4):656-65
references.pmid: 17471542
references.citation: Spine J. 2008 Jan-Feb;8(1):1-7
references.pmid: 18164448
references.citation: Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1983 Mar;8(2):141-4
references.pmid: 6222486
references.citation: Clin J Pain. 1996 Dec;12(4):326-9
references.pmid: 8969878
references.citation: Phys Ther. 2001 Feb;81(2):776-88
references.pmid: 11175676
references.citation: Arch Intern Med. 2009 May 11;169(9):858-66
references.pmid: 19433697
references.citation: Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 1995;20(3):4-8
references.pmid: 8758819
references.citation: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011;2011:180805
references.pmid: 20976074
references.citation: Pain. 1993 Feb;52(2):157-168
references.pmid: 8455963
references.citation: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:714391
references.pmid: 21904563
references.citation: Chin Med. 2010 Jan 12;5:1
references.pmid: 20145733
references.citation: Curr Treat Options Oncol. 2010 Dec;11(3-4):141-6
references.pmid: 21103962
references.citation: Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2008 Jan 1;33(1):90-4
references.pmid: 18165753
references.citation: Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2008 Nov 1;33(23):E887-900
references.pmid: 18978583
references.citation: Arch Intern Med. 2009 Feb 9;169(3):251-8
references.pmid: 19204216
references.citation: Complement Ther Med. 2008 Feb;16(1):28-35
references.pmid: 18346626
references.citation: J Altern Complement Med. 2012 Apr;18(4):334-40
references.pmid: 22515794
references.citation: Qual Life Res. 2004 Mar;13(2):299-310
references.pmid: 15085902
references.citation: Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2000 Nov 15;25(22):2940-52; discussion 2952
references.pmid: 11074683
references.citation: Pain Physician. 2008 Mar;11(2 Suppl):S105-20
references.pmid: 18443635
references.citation: Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2007 Feb;13(1):63-9
references.pmid: 17210513
references.citation: J Tradit Chin Med. 1997 Mar;17(1):26-31
references.pmid: 10437240
references.citation: Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao. 2010 Jun;8(6):501-9
references.pmid: 20550871
references.citation: Ann Acad Med Singap. 1994 Mar;23(2):129-38
references.pmid: 8080219
references.citation: J Altern Complement Med. 2010 Oct;16(10):1097-108
references.pmid: 20954963
references.citation: Eur Spine J. 2006 Mar;15 Suppl 2:S192-300
references.pmid: 16550448
references.citation: Spine J. 2008 Jan-Feb;8(1):160-72
references.pmid: 18164464
references.citation: J Clin Epidemiol. 2006 Jan;59(1):45-52
references.pmid: 16360560
references.citation: Spine J. 2008 Jan-Feb;8(1):8-20
references.pmid: 18164449
references.citation: Arch Intern Med. 2007 Sep 24;167(17):1892-8
references.pmid: 17893311
references.citation: J Pain Symptom Manage. 2011 Jun;41(6):995-1002
references.pmid: 21306863
references.citation: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:383257
references.pmid: 22811745
references.citation: Acad Emerg Med. 2006 Jan;13(1):19-23
references.pmid: 16365322
references.citation: Arch Intern Med. 2006 Feb 27;166(4):450-7
references.pmid: 16505266
references.citation: Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2005 Jun 15;30(12):1454-9
references.pmid: 15959379
references.citation: Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2000 Dec 15;25(24):3115-24
references.pmid: 11124727
references.citation: Phys Ther. 1995 Jun;75(6):470-85; discussion 485-9
references.pmid: 7770494
references.citation: J Altern Complement Med. 2012 Sep;18(9):860-3
references.pmid: 22834870
references.citation: J Altern Complement Med. 2009 Mar;15(3):235-42
references.pmid: 19292653