title: Acupuncture for acute non-specific low back pain: a randomised, controlled, double-blind, placebo trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy of Yamamoto's acupuncture method on pain, drug intake, functional capacity and quality of life for the treatment of acute non-specific low back pain (ANLBP).
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, randomised, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed in 80 men and women with ANLBP who were randomly assigned to five acupuncture sessions (intervention group (IG), n=40) and to five non-penetrating acupuncture sessions (sham group (SG), n=40). Patients were evaluated at baseline and at 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. The measurements used were: visual analogue scale (VAS) for cumulative pain (before intervention, VAS1) and immediate pain (after intervention, VAS2); function (Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RM)); quality of life (SF-36); improvement rating; and number of anti-inflammatory tablets taken. The primary endpoint was a decrease of at least 2 cm in VAS1.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pain VAS improved significantly in the IG from day 14 onwards compared with the SG, but the difference did not reach the prespecified clinically relevant value of 2 cm. The IG was significantly superior to the SG in the following outcomes: cumulative pain, function, pain (SF-36) and vitality (SF-36) at days 14, 21 and 28 (p<0.05); limitation in physical aspects (SF-36) at all times (p=0.007 and p=0.02); and functional capacity (SF-36) at days 21 and 28 (p<0.05). The IG also took significantly fewer anti-inflammatory tablets than the SG (p=0.004) at all evaluation times and the improvement rating was better than the SG (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Yamamoto's new scalp acupuncture was more effective than sham treatment with regard to decrease in pain and anti-inflammatory intake as well as improving functional status and quality of life for patients with ANLBP.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NCT 01124955.
authors: Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), , São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Tatiana Molinas
authors: TM
authors: Hasegawa
authors: Andréia Salvador
authors: AS
authors: Baptista
authors: Marcelo Cardoso
authors: MC
authors: de Souza
authors: Alexandre Massao
authors: AM
authors: Yoshizumi
authors: Jamil
authors: J
authors: Natour
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D059787:Acute Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Acupuncture; Pain Management