Gua Sha Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain

Universität Duisburg-Essen

Status: Completed

Conditions: Low Back Pain

Treatments: Other: Gua Sha

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03333213

08-3594

Details and patient eligibility

About

Chronic low back pain is a major public health burden with only limited evidence of effectiveness for complementary and traditional therapies. Gua Sha is a traditional East Asian therapy traditionally used in the treatment of spinal pain. This study aimed to test the efficacy of Gua Sha therapy in patients with chronic low back pain A total of 50 patients with chronic low back pain were randomized to either two Gua Sha treatments (n=25) or a waitlist control group (n=25). Primary outcome measure was current pain intensity on a 100-mm visual analog scale; secondary outcome measures included back-related function (Oswestry Disability Index), movement-related pain (modified Pain on Movement Questionnaire), as well as pressure pain threshold, mechanical detection threshold, and vibration detection threshold.

Full description

Chronic low back pain is a major public health burden with only limited evidence of effectiveness for complementary and traditional therapies. Gua Sha is a traditional East Asian therapy traditionally used in the treatment of spinal pain. This study aimed to test the efficacy of Gua Sha therapy in patients with chronic low back pain A total of 50 patients with chronic low back pain were randomized to either two Gua Sha treatments (n=25) or a waitlist control group (n=25). Primary outcome measure was current pain intensity on a 100-mm visual analog scale; secondary outcome measures included back-related function (Oswestry Disability Index), movement-related pain (modified Pain on Movement Questionnaire), as well as pressure pain threshold, mechanical detection threshold, and vibration detection threshold.

Enrollment: 50 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 75 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• non-specific low back pain at least once weekly for at least the previous 3 months
• average back pain intensity hat least 40mm on a 100mm visual analog scale (VAS)

Exclusion criteria

• specific low back pain due to trauma, disc protrusion, whiplash, congenital deformity of the spine, spinal stenosis, neoplasm, inflammatory rheumatic disease, or oncologic disease
• dystonia
• pregnancy
• invasive treatment of the spine or spinal surgery within the previous 4 weeks
• oral steroids or anticoagulants
• hemophilia or a skin condition in the area to be treated
• started a new treatment for low back pain within the previous month or planning to start a new treatment within the next month

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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50 participants in 2 patient groups

Gua Sha therapy

Experimental group

Description:

Patients' backs were first covered with Tumarol N Balsam. The study physician then applied a round-edged instrument (the inside smooth edged lip of a metal cap) to patients' skin in downward strokes. Patients were treated twice with a 7-day interval.

Treatment:

Other: Gua Sha

Waitlist control group

No Intervention group

Description:

Treatments in the control group were not regulated but patients were asked to continue their self-directed medical care. They were offered the Gua Sha therapy once the trial was concluded.