Laser Acupuncture Combined With Acupressure Improves Low Back Pain and Quality of Life: a Randomized Controlled Trial
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- En Chu Kong Hospital
- Enrollment
- 76
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- pain intensity and interference
Study Overview
Brief Summary
Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a common, huge health and socioeconomic health problem that affects physiological functions and reduces work efficiency in nurses.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of low-level laser acupuncture combined with acupressure (LAA) on pain intensity, pain interference and life dysfunction in hospital nurses with LBP.
Methods: This single-blinded randomized controlled trial enrolled a convenience sample of nurses from one teaching hospital. Seventy-six participants were randomly assigned to the LAA group (n=38) receiving low-level laser acupuncture and auricular acupressure for four weeks, and a control group (n=38) receiving a similar intervention but without laser energy and acupressure. Data were collected using the Short Form of the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI-SF) and Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RDQ) at three time points: baseline before the intervention, and Week 2 and Week 4 during the intervention.
Detailed Description
The enrollment criteria were age more than 20 years, low back pain with visual analogue scale (LBP_VAS) ≧3, no regular treatment for low back pain within six weeks, and willing to participate in this study. Exclusion criteria were open wounds on lower back, tumor on the back, ankylosing spondylitis, previous lumbar surgery, coagulopathy or bleeding tendency, or pregnancy.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Supportive Care
- Masking
- Single (Participant)
Masking Description
This single-blinded randomized controlled trial
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 20 Years to — (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •age more than 20 years, low back pain with visual analogue scale (LBP_VAS) ≧3
- •no regular treatment for low back pain within six weeks
- •willing to participate in this study
Exclusion Criteria
- •open wounds on lower back
- •tumor on the back
- •ankylosing spondylitis
- •previous lumbar surgery
- •coagulopathy or bleeding tendency
- •pregnancy
Arms & Interventions
Laser acupuncture combined with acupressure (LAA)
A 4-week LAA intervention included low-level laser acupuncture and auricular acupressure. Six acupuncture points were selected, and three auricular points. Participants received laser acupuncture on the six selected acupuncture points bilaterally twice a week for 4 weeks. A seed was taped onto each of the three points of the unilateral ear (initially, the left ear), where it remained for five days. Pressing on each of the seeds for one minute three times a day was required, but the stimulation intensity was adjusted depending on the participant's individual tolerance. After five days, the seed was removed, and a new seed was taped on the other ear.
Intervention: Laser acupuncture combined with acupressure (Other)
Control group
Control participants received a similar intervention, but without laser energy output or acupressure.
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
pain intensity and interference
Time Frame: Data were collected using the Short Form of the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI-SF) : baseline before the intervention, and the change from pain intensity and interference at 1 month.
Primary pain outcomes were measured by the Chinese version of the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPI-SF), which consists of 11 items to measure pain intensity and interference with functionality. Regarding pain severity, 4 items allow patients to rate their pain experience in the past 24 hours or one week at its average, worst, and least levels, as well as their pain experience now, on an 11-point Likert-type scale (0 = no pain, 10 = most severe pain).
Secondary Outcomes
- life dysfunction(Data were collected using the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RDQ) : baseline before the intervention, and the change from life dysfunction at 1 month.)
Investigators
Hsueh-Hua Yang
Principal Investigator
En Chu Kong Hospital