Understanding Low Back Pain
This systematic review analyzed data from thirty-five randomized controlled trials involving 2861 patients. The findings reveal that there's insufficient evidence to make specific recommendations regarding the use of acupuncture or dry needling for acute low-back pain. However, for chronic low-back pain, the results indicate that acupuncture is more effective in relieving pain compared to no treatment or sham treatment, particularly in measurements taken up to three months. Furthermore, the data also suggest that for chronic low-back pain, acupuncture is more effective in improving function compared to no treatment, especially in the short-term. It's important to note that acupuncture doesn't exhibit superior effectiveness when compared to other conventional and "alternative" treatments. However, when combined with conventional therapies, it demonstrates a better ability to relieve pain and enhance function than conventional therapies alone, albeit with generally modest effects. Additionally, dry needling appears to be a beneficial complement to other therapies for chronic low-back pain.
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A 2008 study suggested that combining acupuncture with conventional infertility treatments, such as IVF, significantly improves the success rates of these medical interventions.
A review by Manheimer et al. published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in 2005 reached conclusions similar to Cochrane's review on low back pain. Additionally, a review conducted for the American Pain Society/American College of Physicians found convincing evidence that acupuncture is effective for chronic low back pain.
For managing nausea and vomiting, a Cochrane review by Lee and Done in 2006 focused on the use of the P6 acupoint for reducing post-operative nausea and vomiting. The review concluded that stimulating the P6 acupoint can reduce the risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting, albeit with minimal side effects and efficacy comparable to prophylactic (preventative) treatment with antiemetic drugs. Cochrane also noted that "Electroacupuncture is effective for first-day vomiting after chemotherapy, but further trials considering modern antivomiting drugs are needed."
Moderate evidence suggests that acupuncture is more effective in relieving pain than some sham treatments, particularly at the end of the treatment. There is also moderate evidence indicating that individuals who received acupuncture reported less pain at short-term follow-up compared to those on a waiting list. Additionally, moderate evidence suggests that acupuncture is more effective than inactive treatments for relieving pain post-treatment, and this effect is maintained at short-term follow-up.
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