A Comparison Study Between Low-Level Laser Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Acupuncture for the Treatment of Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain

Main Article Content

Sompop Sooampon
Jirachai Pisutbenya
Ladawan Chotikulworapreuk
Ronakon Louhatanas
Nuananong Pimkhot

Abstract

Background and Objective: Laser acupuncture (LA) is defined as the stimulation of acupuncture points by low-level laser irradiation as an alternative to needles in traditional Chinese acupuncture (TA). This study aimed to compare the effectiveness between LA and TA for the treatment of chronic non-specific low back pain (cLBP).


Methods: This study was a randomized controlled, non-inferiority trial. Seventy subjects were randomly assigned to receive either LA (experimental group, n = 35) or TA (control group, n = 35) once a week for eight weeks. The primary outcome measure was the pain score (numerical rating scale, 0-10). Secondary outcome measures were Oswestry Disability Index and analgesic usage. Analysis of outcome measures was performed at baseline, two, four, and eight weeks post-treatment.


Results: The results showed that LA and TA significantly decreased pain score and disability index at two, four, and eight weeks post-treatment (p < 0.05). There was a decrease in analgesic usage at four, and eight-week post-treatment in both LA and TA (p < 0.05). Regarding changes from baseline in pain score for effectiveness evaluation, mean differences between LA and TA met a non-inferiority margin (less than 1.00) at two and four weeks post-treatment.


Conclusion: LA and TA are effective in reducing pain, disability, and analgesic usage. In addition, LA showed non-inferiority to TA at two and four weeks post-treatment and may be an alternative to the treatment of cLBP.

Article Details

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1.
Sooampon S, Pisutbenya J, Chotikulworapreuk L, Louhatanas R, Pimkhot N. A Comparison Study Between Low-Level Laser Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Acupuncture for the Treatment of Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain. PCFM [Internet]. 2023 Mar. 30 [cited 2024 Nov. 1];6(1):11-22. Available from: https://so03.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/PCFM/article/view/259648
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Original article

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