Acupuncture Relieves Chronic Low Back Pain in Older Adults

More than 1 out of 3 older adults in the U.S. have chronic low back pain. Pain is considered chronic when it lasts more than three months. Some find relief with pain medications or physical therapy. But others need more options. A new study looked at how much acupuncture might help older adults with chronic back pain.

Acupuncture uses thin metal needles to stimulate specific points on the body. Studies have shown it can help with different types of pain.

Researchers enrolled 800 adults ages 65 or older with chronic low back pain. Participants were divided into three groups. Each received treatment for 12 weeks. One group had access to standard medical care alone. This included options for medicine and physical therapy. Another group had access to standard care plus eight to 15 sessions of acupuncture. The last group received standard care options plus enhanced acupuncture—with an additional four to six sessions of acupuncture.

The two groups who received acupuncture had less back pain than those offered standard care alone. The acupuncture groups also reported improved physical function after six months. After 12 months, they had less disability from pain and fewer anxiety symptoms.

Nondrug pain relief options could be especially helpful for older adults who already take several medications. “Acupuncture offers a less invasive option that has a better safety profile than a lot of the common treatments for back pain in older adults,” says Dr. Lynn DeBar of Kaiser Permanente.