Acupuncture has demonstrated potential as a feasible and effective adjunct therapy for managing acute musculoskeletal pain in the emergency department, according to a recent study conducted at Duke University Hospital. The randomized controlled trial, published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine, found that acupuncture, when combined with usual care, led to a significant reduction in pain compared to usual care alone.
The study involved 236 patients presenting with acute musculoskeletal pain. Participants were randomized to receive either usual care plus battlefield acupuncture (administered to five points on each ear), usual care plus peripheral acupuncture (administered to various points on the arms, legs, head, and neck), or usual care alone. The acupuncture treatments were administered for 20-30 minutes in a designated area within the emergency department.
Acupuncture's Additive Effect on Pain Relief
Stephanie Eucker, MD, PhD, assistant professor of emergency medicine at Duke University School of Medicine and first author of the study, noted the challenges in treating musculoskeletal pain in the emergency department. "Musculoskeletal pain is really hard to treat in the emergency department, and medication alone only achieves a one-to-two-point reduction in pain scores on average," Eucker said. "We were able to get at least that much, if not more, of a pain reduction on average in patients who received acupuncture. We found there was an additive effect of additional pain relief with acupuncture on top of what patients were already experiencing with medications alone."
Initial analysis revealed no significant difference in pain relief between battlefield and peripheral acupuncture, leading the researchers to continue the study using both types. This suggests that the specific acupuncture technique may be less critical than the inclusion of acupuncture as part of the treatment plan.
Addressing Health Disparities in Pain Management
Eucker highlighted the importance of addressing health disparities in pain management, noting that historically minoritized and medically underserved populations often experience worse pain outcomes. By offering acupuncture as an alternative or adjunct to traditional medication-based approaches, the researchers hope to improve pain management for a broader range of patients.
Implications and Future Directions
The study's findings suggest that acupuncture could play a valuable role in managing acute musculoskeletal pain in the emergency department. The researchers emphasize the need for further research to explore the long-term effects of acupuncture on pain management and to identify the specific patient populations that may benefit most from this intervention. The accompanying editorial in the Annals of Emergency Medicine called the results "promising," while noting that further study is needed.
