Trigger Point Electroacupuncture Treatment in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND PHARMACY AT HO CHI MINH CITY · Mar 5, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring a new treatment for people suffering from chronic low back pain (CLBP) that focuses on a method called Trigger Point electroacupuncture. This technique combines traditional acupuncture with electrical stimulation to help relieve pain faster. Previous research suggests that targeting specific painful spots, known as trigger points, may provide better pain relief than regular acupuncture for those with CLBP. However, this study aims to compare the effectiveness of Trigger Point electroacupuncture against regular electroacupuncture to see which method works better for pain relief.

To participate in this trial, individuals must be at least 20 years old and have been experiencing low back pain for more than three months, with a pain level of at least 5 out of 10. Participants should also have trigger points in their back. However, those with certain serious health conditions or who are receiving other treatments for their pain will not be eligible. If you decide to join the study, you can expect to receive treatment focused on your specific pain areas, and researchers will monitor your progress throughout the trial. This study is not currently recruiting participants, but it aims to provide valuable information that could lead to better treatment options for chronic low back pain in the future.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Patients aged 20 or older who consented to participate in the study;
• • Individuals experiencing LBP persisting for more than 3 months with an average VAS score of 5 cm or over;
• • Patients displaying trigger points in back
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Major trauma or systemic disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, Scheuermann disease;
• • Systemic symptoms such as weight loss, fever of unknown origin, anorexia, personal history of malignancy, diffuse pain and joint stiffness;
• • Symptoms of infection such as fever, meningeal irritation signs, photophobia;
• • Symptoms of central motor neuron damage such as Hoffmann sign, Babinski sign, hyperreflexia, spasticity, incontinence, sexual dysfunction;
• • Symptoms of serious acute diseases such as myocardial infarction (chest pain, sweating, shortness of breath), arterial dissections (tearing sensation, headache, blurred vision);
• • Conditions unsuitable for acupuncture such as inflammation of skin in need of acupuncture, weak or exhausted patients, severe comorbidities;
• • Being treated with other methods. Elimination criteria: Patients experiencing adverse events from the intervention leading to their discomfort and withdrawal from the study