The Efficacy of Acupressure Therapy on Chronic Mechanic Low Back Pain

Objective: Chronic mechanical low back pain, defined as lasting more than 3 months, is an important health burden causing loss of function and work capacity. The aim of the study was to determine the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment in patients with chronic low back pain. Methods: Sixty patients with chronic mechanical low back pain were randomly divided into two groups. While acupuncture was applied to the first group, the second group received transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and infrared therapy. All patients in both groups were included in the exercise program containing strengthening of abdominal, low back and back muscles. The effectiveness of treatment modalities were evaluated with low back range of motion parameters, pain with back movements, milligram test, visual analogue scale values of rest and activity pain, Oswestry low back pain disability and Roland-Morris functional assessment scales and short-form 36, at baseline, at the end of treatment and at 1st month follow-up. Results: Significant improvement was observed in favor of acupuncture treatment group not only in the early period in terms of pain with back movements and patient self-reported pain parameters but also especially at the second visit in terms of disability-functional values. Quality of life was also found to be better in acupuncture group. Conclusion: Ten sessions of acupressure application was found to be superior to 10 sessions of TENS combined with infrared therapy. The favorable effect lasted at 1st month follow-up after the end of the treatment.