Pain
Tai chi better than usual care for low back pain – Journal of Chinese Medicine, Feb 2012
The first pragmatic randomised controlled trial of tai chi for people with low back pain has shown that it can improve pain and disability outcomes in this population. Australian researchers randomised 160 volunteers with persistent non-specific low back pain to either tai chi or a wait-list control group, who continued with their usual health care. The tai chi intervention consisted of 18 forty-minute group sessions over a 10-week period delivered by a qualified instructor. Tai chi was found to reduce the bothersomeness of back symptoms by 1.7 points and pain intensity by 1.3 points (on a 10-point scale). It was also found to improve self-reported disability by 2.6 points on a 24-point scale. (Tai chi exercise for treatment of pain and disability in people with persistent low back pain: a randomized controlled trial. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2011 Nov;63(11):1576-83).
Yoga and stretching better for low back pain – Journal of Chinese Medicine, Feb 2012
Yoga is a more effective treatment for chronic lower back pain than conventional GP care, according to the UK’s largest ever study into its benefits. The trial involved 313 people who were receiving GP care for chronic back pain. Participants were randomised to receive usual care alone, or usual care plus 12 weeks of group yoga classes specially designed for those with lower back pain. The results showed that the yoga group had better back function at three, six and 12 months compared with the usual care group. Around 60% of people in the yoga group continued with their practice after the end of the classes. (Yoga for chronic low back pain: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2011 Nov 1;155(9):569-78). In another study from the USA, 228 adults with chronic low back pain were randomised to 12 weekly classes of yoga, conventional stretching exercises or a self-care book. Yoga was found to be more effective in improving function and reducing symptoms than self-care (-2.5 versus -1.1 points on a 23-point disability scale), but not more effective than stretching (at six, 12 and 26 weeks). (A Randomized Trial Comparing Yoga, Stretching, and a Self-care Book for Chronic Low Back Pain. Arch Intern Med. 2011 Dec 12;171(22):2019-26).
Acupuncture helps relieve breast pain – Journal of Chinese Medicine, Feb 2012
American researchers have found preliminary evidence that acupuncture may be able to help relieve non-cyclic breast pain. Thirty-seven women experiencing breast pain received treatment consisting of four acupuncture sessions over two weeks, with three months follow-up. Patients reported that pain (described as throbbing and heavy) decreased significantly after acupuncture. Following treatment, pain scores decreased by an average of 3.5 points (on a 10-point scale) for the worst pain experienced, by 2.7 points for average pain experienced and by 2.3 points for interference from pain. The percentage of patients reporting a clinically meaningful decrease of two points from baseline to the end of treatment was 67% for the worst pain experienced, 65% for average pain experienced, and 56% for pain interference. (Acupuncture for treatment of noncyclic breast pain: a pilot study. Am J Chin Med. 2011;39(6):1117-29).
Acupuncture reduces cost of back pain – Journal of Chinese Medicine, Feb 2012
Patients with low-back pain (LBP) are less likely to visit physicians for their problem after receiving acupuncture treatment, which leads to reduced healthcare pending on LBP. In a case control study carried out in Canada, 201 cases in which LBP was treated with acupuncture were compared with 804 controls. Each acupuncture group case was matched with four comparison cases from the general population with LBP, based on gender and age. The number of physician visits for the one-year period post-acupuncture decreased 49% for the acupuncture group, compared with the one-year period pre-acupuncture. In the comparison group, there was a decrease of 2% in physician visits for the same time periods. The cost of LBP-related physician services showed corresponding decreases, declining by 37% for the acupuncture group and 1% for the comparison group. (Reduced health resource use after acupuncture for low-back pain. J Altern Complement Med. 2011 Nov;17(11):1015-9).
Qigong benefits neck pain – Journal of Chinese Medicine, Feb 2011
A German team has compared qigong and exercise therapy in patients with chronic neck pain. One hundred and twenty-three patients with chronic neck pain (VAS 40 mm) were randomised to six months (18 sessions) of either qigong or exercise therapy, or to a waiting list (no treatment). After six months, a significant difference was seen between the qigong and waiting list control groups in terms of neck pain, disability and quality of life. Results in the qigong and exercise therapy groups were found to be similar. (Qigong versus Exercise versus no Therapy for Patients with Chronic Neck Pain – a Randomized Controlled Trial. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2010 Dec 20. [Epub ahead of print]).
Tai Chi relieves arthritis pain – Journal of Chinese Medicine, Feb 2011
A randomised controlled trial carried out in the USA has evaluated the effectiveness of a six-week tai chi course in reducing symptoms, increasing function and improving psychosocial status in arthritis patients. In the largest study to date carried out under the Arthritis Foundation Tai Chi program, 332 participants were randomly assigned to treatment or a waiting list control. The tai chi intervention consisted of 12 movements from Sun style tai chi, which included exercises to improve mobility, breathing and relaxation. Participants in the tai chi program showed improvements in pain, fatigue, stiffness, wellbeing and ability to reach. (Evaluation of Tai Chi Course Effectiveness for People with Arthritis. 2010 Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology, Abstract 690).
Ginger relieves muscle soreness – Journal of Chinese Medicine, Feb 2011
Daily supplementation with ginger root (Gan Jiang [Zingiberis Rhizomal] has been found to reduce exercise-induced pain by 25%. The anti-inflammatory action of ginger has previously been confirmed in rodents, but not in humans. American investigators conducted two studies to identify the impact of raw and heat-treated ginger supplements on muscle pain. Thirty-four volunteers were enrolled in the raw ginger study and 40 on the heat-treated ginger study. In each group, the subjects consumed capsules containing 2g of either raw or heat-treated ginger or placebo for 11 consecutive days. On Day 8 of the study, the volunteers performed resistance exercises with a heavy weight to induce moderate muscle injury. The results showed that daily ginger supplementation reduced exercise-induced pain by a moderate to large amount: 25% for raw, and 23% or heat-treated ginger, compared with placebo. (Ginger (Zingiber officinale) reduces muscle pain caused by eccentric exercise. J Pain. 2010 Sep;11(9):894-903).
Acupuncture an effective alternative for shoulder pain – Journal of Chinese Medicine, Oct 2010
A large pragmatic randomised trial has found that acupuncture is an effective alternative to conventional orthopaedic treatment for chronic shoulder pain(CSP). The German Randomized Acupuncture trial for chronic Shoulder Pain (GRASP) studied 424 patients with an average visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score of 50mm, who were randomly assigned to receive six weeks of Chinese acupuncture (verum), sham acupuncture (sham) or conventional conservative orthopaedic treatment (COT). At the end of the treatment, the percentages of responders (defined as those who achieved at least a 50% reduction in VAS pain score) were: verum 68%, sham 40% and COT 28%. Three months after the end of treatment, the percentages of responders were: verum 65%, sham 24% and COT 37%. These results are significant for both verum over sham and verum over COT for both endpoints. The verum group also exhibited improvement of shoulder mobility versus the control group, both immediately after treatment and after three months. (German Randomized Acupuncture Trial for chronic shoulder pain (GRASP) – A pragmatic, controlled, patient-blinded, multi-centre trial in an outpatient care environment. Pain. 2010 Jul 22. [Epub ahead of print]).
Acupuncture for head and neck pain – Journal of Chinese Medicine, Feb 2010
Myofascial jaw pain can be significantly reduced by a single acupuncture treatment at Hegu L.I.-4. Twenty-eight subjects with chronic myofascial pain of the jaw muscles were randomised to receive real or sham acupuncture. Prior to treatment, each subject clenched their teeth for two minutes. Acupuncture or sham acupuncture was then administered at Hegu L.I.-4 for 15 minutes. Real acupuncture was carried out through a sticky foam pad at the acupoint. Sham acupuncture was conducted by pricking the skin, without penetration, using a shortened, blunted acupuncture needle through a foam pad placed away from the acupoint. Subjects receiving real acupuncture experienced a significant reduction in jaw pain, jaw/face tightness and neck pain and a significant increasen in pain tolerance of the masseter muscle. No significant pain reductions were observed in the sham acupuncture group. (Randomized clinical trial of acupuncture for myofascial pain of the jaw muscles. J Orofac Pain. 2009 Fall;23(4):353-9).
Acupuncture helps with labour pain – Journal of Chinese Medicine, Oct 2009
Danish clinicians carrying out the largest randomised controlled trial of acupuncture for relief of labour pain have found it to be a good supplement to existing pain relief methods, reducing the need for pharmacological and invasive methods during delivery. A randomised controlled trial was conducted with 607 healthy women in labour at term who received acupuncture, TENS, or traditional analgesics. Acupuncture was individualised, based on women’s mobility and localisation of pain, with points chosen from a list of 34 specified points. Although pain scores were comparable across the three groups, the use of pharmacological and invasive methods was significantly lower in the acupuncture group. Acupuncture did not influence the duration of labour or the use of oxytocin. In addition, indications of neonatal wellbeing (Apgar score and umbilical cord pH value) were significantly better among infants in the acupuncture group compared with infants in the other groups. (Acupuncture as pain relief during delivery: a randomized controlled trial. Birth. 2009 Mar;36(1):5-12).