Effect of Acupuncture Dry Needle in Treatment of Chronic Mechanical Low Back Pain

Short Term Effect of Acupuncture Dry Needle in Treatment of Chronic Mechanical Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Low back pain affects about 60% to 90% of the working-age population in modern industrial society. Chronic mechanical low back pain (CMLBP) is the most common problem of the working-age population in modern industrial society; it causes a substantial economic burden due to the wide use of medical services and absence from work. The purpose of this trial was to evaluate the short-term effect of acupuncture dry needle in treatment of chronic mechanical low back pain.

Low back pain affects about 60% to 90% of the working-age population in modern industrial society. Chronic mechanical low back pain (CMLBP) is the most common problem of the working-age population in modern industrial society; it causes a substantial economic burden due to the wide use of medical services and absence from work. The purpose of this trial was to evaluate the short-term effect of acupuncture dry needle in treatment of chronic mechanical low back pain. Thirty patients their age ranged from 20 - 45 years participated in our study and divided randomly into two equal groups suffering from nonspecific low back pain. The first group (A) consist of 15 patients receiving acupuncture dry needle over trigger points of back muscles followed by stretching and strengthening exercises for back muscles, the second group (B) consist of 15 patients receiving only stretching and strengthening exercises for back muscles. The following parameters including pain severity, functional disability and lumbar range of motion (flexion, extension, right side bending and left side bending) were measured before and after treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age ranges from 20 to 45 years old.
2. Pain of at least 30 mm to 70 mm on a visual analogue scale (VAS) from 0 mm (no pain) to 100 mm (worst imaginable pain).
3. Presence of MTrPs at least in 4 muscles on any side.
4. Patients had lower back myofascial pain syndrome for at least 3 months ago.

Exclusion Criteria:

A history of previous back surgery, neurologic deficit, current lower extremity symptoms, cardiopulmonary disease with decreased activity tolerance, rheumatologic conditions, polyarticular osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and advanced lumbar degenerative disease, patients receiving other treatment in the form of physical therapy or medication for the duration of the study that may interfere with the results of this study.