Positive Health Online

Abstract

GRANT and colleagues, Liberton Hospital, Edinburgh, UK. d.j.grant@btinternet.com conducted a randomised clinical trial comparing acupuncture with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) .

Background

Methodology

60 patients aged 60 and over who had been suffering from back pain for at least 6 months were recruited from GP referrals and randomised to 4 weeks of acupuncture (n = 32) or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) (n = 28) treatment. All treatments were from the same physiotherapist. Outcome measures, measured at baseline, completion and at 30month follow-up were: 1) pain severity on a visual analogue scale (VAS); 2) pain subscale of Nottingham Health Profile (NHP); 3) the number of pain tablets taken in previous week; 4) spinal flexion from C7 to S1. Two patients withdrew from the acupuncture group, one from TENS.

Results

Between baseline and completion, there were significant improvements on VAS, NHP and tablet count in both groups . These improvements remained significant comparing baseline with follow-up with a further non-significant improvement in VAS and NHP in the acupuncture group. The acupuncture but not the TENS group showed a small yet statistically significant improvement in mean spinal flexion between baseline and completion; however this was not maintained at follow-up.

Conclusion

In these elderly patients with chronic back pain, both acupuncture and TENS showed demonstrable benefits outlasting the treatment period. Acupuncture may improve spinal flexion . However, this trial cannot exclude the possibility that both treatments are placebos.

References

Grant DJ et al. A randomized comparative trial of acupuncture versus transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for chronic back pain in the elderly. Pain 82(1): 9-13. Jul 1999.