IF YOU HAVE CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN YOU NEED TO TRY ACUPUNCTURE
Journal of the American Medical Association (September 2025) published a great study validating acupuncture as an effective treatment for older adults suffering from chronic low back pain.
DeBar LL, Wellman RD, Justice M, et al. Acupuncture for Chronic Low Back Pain in Older Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(9):e2531348. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.31348.
This is a big deal. Last month the journal of the American Medical Association published a study that concluded that acupuncture needling is an effective and safe treatment option for people suffering from chronic low back pain.
Why is this a big deal?
Who published it and the size and design:
- This was not something we found in a tabloid or dark corner of the Internet. This is the journal of the American Medical Association, i.e. the medical establishment. It was a good study. The study draws from a wide population of patients with chronic low back pain-800 people. Larger sample size reduces random error and increases confidence that the benefits are real. This was a randomized controlled study–The gold standard in scientific research.
The population studied:
This study focused on older adults a group often excluded from trials despite being heavily affected by chronic low back pain. One in three people living in the United states over age 65 suffers from chronic low back pain.
Safety and practical benefit:
the study emphasizes that acupuncture is safe with no adverse side effects and it is a fantastic non-drug, low risk option.
Clinical takeaways:
- Everyone suffering from chronic low back pain should consider acupuncture, especially if they’re looking for a non-pharmacologic strategy. Acupuncture is shown again and again to be an effective treatment for pain. Acupuncture can improve function and reduce pain for many patients. It is a sensible option. As a practitioner of acupuncture for over 25 years I am super excited about this study. We see great results every day in the clinic but it’s nice to see it’s supported by a randomized double-blind controlled study.
- This study did not analyze the compounding effectiveness of layering acupuncture alongside other treatment modalities like therapeutic massage, chiropractic manipulation, therapeutic exercise and stretching. There are other studies which DO support that the effectiveness of acupuncture increases further went integrated along with other treatment modalities. In the clinic here at Nova Rehabilitation Acupuncture and Chiropractic in Wheaton and Lemont Illinois, we routinely observe the outcomes that were highlighted in the study. However, we routinely observe that acupuncture is even more effective when combined with these other treatment modalities.
- This study was based on measuring people suffering from chronic low back pain receiving acupuncture over a 6 to 12 month period. This time frame reflects clinical reality quite well: people suffering from chronic low back pain have to be patient when receiving acupuncture because it takes time. Treatment protocols can vary in our clinic patient to patient– acupuncture treatment once a week is a typical treatment frequency.
There is a reason why Nova Rehabilitation Acupuncture Chiropractic in Wheaton and Lemont, Illinois has been around as long as it has. The heart of our clinical success centers around individualized patient care. Some patients seek only acupuncture, others only chiropractic care. Patients who are open to treatment that incorporates multiple layers of conservative therapies experience greater outcomes and higher satisfaction. It is nice to see that the scientific community is validating our day-to-day success!