Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
www.pharmpress.com/fact
Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2006; 11: 46
To establish the effect of a naturopathic medical treatment (using a combination of acupuncture, mind–body therapy, lifestyle and dietary counselling) on pain management and quality of life in chronic lumbago patients.
Participants were randomised to either naturopathic treatment or a control group. The control group received bi-monthly instruction on lumbar stretching, strengthening and relaxation exercises. The active group received standard bi-weekly acupuncture, lifestyle advice, nutritional counselling and the same advice as the control group. Oswestry, Roland & Morris and SF-36 questionnaires were completed to assess baseline back health and quality of life. Pain medication, adjunctive therapies used and lumbar flexion were also established at baseline. Oswestry and Roland & Morris (specific low back pain questionnaires), SF-36 (quality of life questionnaire) and forward lumbar flexion (functional measure) were recorded at 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Medication and therapy use was recorded at each visit.
Over 12 weeks Oswestry scores in the active group decreased by 11.1% while increasing by 1.7% in the control (P < 0.0001). Active group Roland & Morris scores decreased 20.0%, while control scores increased by 8.8% (P < 0.0001). Active group lumbar flexion increased from 29.55 to 33.85 cm, while decreasing from 31.58 to 30.28 cm in the control group (P < 0.0001). NSAID drug use decreased and SF-36 scores improved in the active group in every category.
Improvements in physical, emotional and mental health were achieved with naturopathic treatment of low back pain, supporting its use in the treatment of chronic lumbago.
This study was funded by Canada Post Corporation and Canadian Union of Postal Workers. They had no role in the conduct or analysis of this data, nor saw the abstract prior to submission.
