Back pain has been a medical condition that has afflicted humans essentially as long as we have been an upright, erect-posture species. Chronic low back pain (cLBP) in particular is extremely common, as up to 84% of the world’s population experiences it at some point in their lives. Often, people will feel pain in their back and attribute it to the activity that led to the pain. However, cLBP is usually not caused by a singular event, but rather a combination of issues, such as physical trauma, repeated strain, lifestyle characteristics, improper manipulation of the spine, muscles, and nerves of the low back, etc. Due to the variety and combinative nature of these causes, cLBP, like most other forms of chronic pain, is not always seen as curable or easily manageable. As a result, it is one of the more poorly managed conditions within the population, which is compounded by the fact that chronic pain is infamously difficult to treat. Despite all of this, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and more specifically acupuncture, is one of the most common and more effective treatment modalities for cLBP. This blog seeks to help inform on how acupuncture is used to treat and manage cLBP and why it should be considered as a part of a patient’s treatment plan.
Acupuncture Background
Acupuncture is a treatment modality within the larger Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) umbrella, and is thought to have begun as a practice over 2,500 years ago. The basic premise of acupuncture is the precise insertion and manipulation of needles into specific points (known as acupuncture points) on the body. These points are connected by pathways called meridians, and needle insertion/manipulation is meant to stimulate Qi (pronounced ‘chee’) flow along these pathways. Physiologically, it is understood that acupuncture helps to stimulate the central nervous system, releasing chemicals that help your body heal or reduce pain. For a more in depth understanding of acupuncture, check out our Acupuncture 101 blog!
Acupuncture and Chronic Low Back Pain
Chronic Low Back Pain (cLBP) is the most common reason for patients to seek out acupuncture as a part of their pain management plan. Compounded by the fact that acupuncture is one of the most studied forms of non-allopathic medicine, many research studies suggest that acupuncture is beneficial to managing cLBP. In two studies analyzing the efficacy of acupuncture in samples of 18,000 and 21,000 patients (Vickers et al., 2012, 2018), acupuncture was found to be “substantially more effective” than traditional care methods and sham/fake acupuncture. Another study of 17,922 patients (MacPherson et al., 2017) found that the pain-relieving effects of acupuncture were sustained at the one year mark. Essentially, these three studies, and many others, tell us two crucial things regarding the effectiveness of acupuncture: 1) it is effective, and 2) its effectiveness is long-term. Chronic pain is often defined as pain that persists over a long period of time, so it is only natural that a valid treatment option has long-term benefits. Acupuncture, when done on a consistent basis like any other medical treatment plan, is effective at reducing and managing cLBP in the long run, ensuring a patient can enjoy life without their pain coming back to haunt them. Here at Essence specifically, we tailor our treatment plans and re-evaluations to your feedback and wellness goals, so that you are ahead of the game in terms of pain management.
Barriers to Acupuncture for Chronic Low Back Pain
Despite the overwhelming evidence that acupuncture is beneficial and effective in cLBP treatment, certain barriers persist that prevent patients from including it in their pain management regimen. One of the primary reasons is a lack of knowledge about acupuncture; its existence, how it works, and whether it is valid medicine. For this one, we once again highly recommend our Acupuncture 101 blog to clear up these misconceptions. Other reasons that people don’t do acupuncture is the perception that acupuncture is not safe, is not scientific, and is not cost-effective. However, a meta-analysis of various studies shows that these perceptions do not match scientific consensus. For one, in a randomized controlled trial, acupuncture over a long-term treatment plan in conjunction with routine care was found to result in “clinically relevant benefit” while also being “cost-effective”. Additionally, the safety of acupuncture is well-established in the scientific and medical community, with just the risk of adverse events estimated at 0.05 per 10,000 treatments (0.0005%) and 0.55 per 10,000 individual patients (0.0055%), which is very good compared to many alternative allopathic treatments. Lastly, while our Acupuncture 101 blog discusses the scientific nature of acupuncture, acupuncture’s effectiveness on cLBP in particular is well-supported; essentially, acupuncture has shown efficacy in increasing microcirculation (blood circulation in your smaller blood vessels like capillaries) and reducing inflammation, which improves joint movement, reduces muscle stiffness, and heals swelling/bruising associated with cLBP. Here at Essence, we do our resolute best to help our patients find a path to acupuncture that addresses any concerns regarding it as a practice.
Chronic Low Back Pain may be common and difficult to treat, but that does not mean you have to struggle in silence. We hope that this blog has at least opened your mind to considering acupuncture as a part of your long-term pain management plan. If you are interested in acupuncture for cLBP or are unsure about whether it’s right for you, give our office a call at 210-236-5862 for any questions and to schedule a consultation! Here at Essence Acupuncture Wellness of San Antonio, we strongly recommend considering acupuncture as a method of treating and managing chronic low back pain and we hope to see you soon!
References:
Dunkin, Marie Ann. “Back Pain: Acupuncture Treatment and Points.” Acupuncture for Back Pain, WebMD, 7 Mar. 2025, www.webmd.com/back-pain/back-pain-and-acupuncture.
“Low Back Pain – Chronic.” Edited by Linda Vorvick, Mount Sinai Health System, 27 Apr. 2023, www.mountsinai.org/health-library/diseases-conditions/low-back-pain-chronic.
MacPherson, H., Vertosick, E. A., Foster, N. E., Lewith, G., Linde, K., Sherman, K. J., Witt, C. M., Vickers, A. J., & Acupuncture Trialists’ Collaboration (2017). The persistence of the effects of acupuncture after a course of treatment: a meta-analysis of patients with chronic pain. Pain, 158(5), 784–793. https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000747
Sudhakaran P. (2021). Acupuncture for Low-Back Pain. Medical acupuncture, 33(3), 219–225. https://doi.org/10.1089/acu.2020.1499
Vickers, A. J., Vertosick, E. A., Lewith, G., MacPherson, H., Foster, N. E., Sherman, K. J., Irnich, D., Witt, C. M., Linde, K., & Acupuncture Trialists’ Collaboration (2018). Acupuncture for Chronic Pain: Update of an Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis. The journal of pain, 19(5), 455–474. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2017.11.005
