Evaluation of efficacy of acupuncture and physiotherapy in treating lower back pain in pregnancy

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy is associated with considerable anatomical and physiological alterations in the mother’s body in an attempt to nurture and accommodate the developing fetus. Lower back pain is one of the most common complaints amongst women during pregnancy and affects around 50% women. Acupuncture has been considered to be a useful alternative or an adjunct to traditional analgesic methods for low‐back pain by the National Institute of Health consensus agreement.Objectives: The current study was conducted to evaluate the usefulness or effectiveness of acupuncture therapy in treatment of lower back pain in pregnant women, and its comparison with physiotherapy.Methodology: 80 pregnant women with low‐back pain with a complaint of pelvic pain for more than 2 weeks were included in the study. They were randomly assigned to 2 groups. Group 1 comprised of 40 pregnant women who were assigned for acupuncture therapy, whereas Group 2 comprised of 40 pregnant women who were assigned for physiotherapy. Acupuncture group was subjected to 2 sessions of acupuncture therapy per week, 30 minutes each, with insertion of needles in auricular region (acupuncture points). Physiotherapy group was assigned for 2 sessions, 30 minutes each. The therapy was carried out for a total of 2 weeks. And the VAS score was recorded to evaluate the pain intensity before and after treatment in both the groups.Results: The maximum VAS score pretreatment in Group 1 was 9.3 and minimum was 6.0. The minimum value VAS recorded post treatment was 2.0. The maximum VAS score pre treatment in Group 2 was 9.3 and minimum was 6.0. The minimum value VAS recorded post treatment was 2.4. The results clearly indicate the patients in acupuncture group revealed better results and reduction in pain than the physiotherapy group.Conclusion: Acupuncture relieves low-back and pelvic pain without serious adverse effects in late pregnancy.

Key Words: Acupuncture, pregnancy, lower back pain, pelvic girdle pain, physiotherapy.