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Does Acupuncture Work for Back Pain?

Acupuncture DOES work for back pain.

More Info: Back pain sufferers may already have the answer that researchers are continually attempting to substantiate.  An estimated 3 million American adults turn to acupuncture as a treatment for back pain.  This fact makes back pain the leading reason for complementary and alternative health use.

Positive Back Pain Acupuncture Stuides 

Numerous studies have been conducted to determine the effectiveness of acupuncture for back pain relief that have indicated positive results. Possibly the strongest supporting evidence comes from a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.  Researchers from the Department of Complementary Medicine, School of Postgraduate Medicine and Health Science, University of Exeter compiled randomized control trials for any type of back pain and conducted a meta-analysis to establish the effectiveness of acupuncture as an alternative treatment.  The analysis included twelve trials and concluded that acupuncture was superior to various control interventions. [Ernst, E, and AR White, 158]

Non-Conclusive Research 

Though emerging research is promising, some professionals contend that many of the studies conducted are of poor quality rendering the information supporting the conclusions non-conclusive and in some cases inaccurate. Researchers from the Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO put this theory to the test in a study published in the Southern Journal of Medicine.  They concluded that the manner in which acupuncturists treat patients varies so considerably as having the potential to skew study results.