Berkhamsted acupuncture: Acupuncture for low back pain - American College of Physicians now recommends acupuncture

Earlier this year The American College of Physicians updated their recommendations on the management of lower back pain and now include acupuncture as part of those recommendations.

Lower back pain is a very common problem and according to the ACP 25% of Americans have reported at least one day of back pain in the last three months. According to their criteria low back pain is acute if it lasts less than 4 weeks and chronic if it lasts longer then 12 weeks.

The ACP concluded that paracetamol was not superior to placebo for lower back pain and steroids were not effective either. In a trend that is different than here in the UK with NICE recently reversing their previous recommendation for acupuncture for lower back pain, the US guidelines recommend exploring non-pharmacological treatments first. Alongside acupuncture they also recommended mindfulness-based stress reduction, tai chi, yoga, and a multi disciplinary approach.

You can find details of their recommendation here:

ACP on acupuncture for lower back pain

 

The British Acupuncture Council provide a factsheet specifically on acupuncture for low back pain which you can find here:

The British Acupuncture Council on low back pain

If you’re in pain and looking for acupuncture in berkhamsted or acupuncture in hemel hempstead I’m based at Berkhamsted Chiropractic Clinic, appointments are available on 07717 515 013.