Integrated Chiropractic and Acupuncture Treatment for Low Back Pain

Southern California University of Health Sciences

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 2

Conditions: Low Back Pain

Treatments: Other: Acupuncture; Other: Chiropractic

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01357343

KIZH003

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study is being conducted to compare the effectiveness of integrated chiropractic and acupuncture care for the management of low back pain.

Full description

This study is being conducted at the Southern California University of Health Sciences. Eligible subjects will be randomized to one of three treatment groups: chiropractic care alone, acupuncture care alone, and chiropractic and acupuncture care combined.

Subjects will be treated on pragmatic basis for 60 days and then followed up for an additional 60 days. All examinations and treatments will be provided free of charge. The expected benefits for the participants are decreased pain and improved function.

Enrollment: 103 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 75 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Are 18 years or older
• Have a current episode of low back pain

Exclusion criteria

• Received chiropractic treatment or other manipulative therapies within the last month
• Received acupuncture treatment within the last month
• Visceral, systemic or joint inflammatory disease with referred pain to the back or pelvis
• Non-mechanical low back pain
• A history of low back surgery
• Osteoporosis
• Spondylolisthesis
• Coagulation disorder or are taking anticoagulant medication
• Prolonged systemic corticosteroid medication
• Progressive unilateral lower limb muscle weakness
• Symptoms or signs of cauda equina syndrome (e.g., bowel or bladder dysfunction)
• Severe concurrent illness (e.g., cancer, heart diseases, psychiatric disorders)
• Known pregnancy

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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103 participants in 3 patient groups

Acupuncture

Active Comparator group

Description:

Acupuncture needling, moxa, Tui Na and cupping

Treatment:

Other: Acupuncture

Chiropractic care

Active Comparator group

Description:

Chiropractic adjustments and active and passive physical modalities.

Treatment:

Other: Chiropractic

Integrated Chiropractic and Acupuncture

Active Comparator group

Treatment:

Other: Acupuncture

Other: Chiropractic