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Trials
Published in: Trials 1/2019

Open Access 01-12-2019 | Acupuncture | Study protocol

Evaluation of clinical efficacy of silver-needle warm acupuncture in treating adults with acute low back pain due to lumbosacral disc herniation: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Authors: Tian Li, Siyao Wang, Shen Zhang, Xueyong Shen, Yanwen Song, Zhen Yang, Zouqin Huang

Published in: Trials | Issue 1/2019

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Abstract

Background

As a common cause of low back pain, lumbosacral disc herniation (LDH) is usually dealt with using non-surgical interventions. In the face of concerns about prescription opioid abuse, alternative and complementary treatments may be promising, among which silver-needle warm acupuncture is considered as an upgrading option for its potential anti-inflammatory and strong analgesic effect for patients with chronic pain. In this proposed study, we aim to assess its clinical efficacy in comparison with conventional stainless steel filiform-needle warm acupuncture.

Methods/design

This is a randomized, two-armed, patient- and assessor-blinded trial. One hundred and sixty eligible patients recruited from December 2018 to June 2020 in three centers will be assigned for warm acupuncture treatment with either stainless steel filiform or silver needles. Nine sessions of 20-min treatment will be conducted during 3 consecutive weeks. Assessments with instruments including the Oswestry Disability Index, the visual analog scale, and the Japanese Orthopedic Association Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire will be performed at four time points to explore the difference of clinical efficacy between two groups.

Discussion

If the results show that participants treated with silver-needle warm acupuncture gain a greater improvement in terms of pain intensity, physical function, and quality of life, this study is expected to offer reliable evidence to widely push this treatment for LDH in clinical practice.

Trial registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR1800019051​. Registered on 24 October 2018.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
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Metadata
Title
Evaluation of clinical efficacy of silver-needle warm acupuncture in treating adults with acute low back pain due to lumbosacral disc herniation: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors
Tian Li
Siyao Wang
Shen Zhang
Xueyong Shen
Yanwen Song
Zhen Yang
Zouqin Huang
Publication date
01-12-2019
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Trials / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 1745-6215
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-019-3566-2

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