Acupressure is a feasible, effective, safe, low cost nonpharmacologic method to treat chronic low back pain. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Efficacy of acupressure for chronic low back pain: A systematic review.
Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2020 May ;39:101146. Epub 2020 Mar 17. PMID: 32379678
Erica Godley
OBJECTIVE: Establish the utility of acupressure for chronic low back pain (CLBP).
DESIGN: A systematic review of English articles using PubMed and Embase was conducted from 01/2004-01/2020. Search terms included:"acupressure"and"chronic pain"or"low back pain". Articles included were randomized control trials evaluating acupressure in adult patients with CLBP.
RESULTS: 150 studies met initial criteria; 6 were included (n = 468). The average total treatment length was 4 weeks. The main treatment outcomes were changes in pain, disability, and sleep. All studies found a clinically significant reduction (, ≥30% decrease) in pain for the treatment groups. All studies found a clinically significant and/or statistically significant improvement in disability in at least one of the treatment groups. All studies found a statistically significant improvement in sleep. No study found significant adverse events.
CONCLUSION: Acupressure is a feasible, effective, safe, low cost nonpharmacologic method to treat CLBP.
