An Audit of the Effectiveness of Acupuncture on Musculoskeletal Pain in Primary Health Care

Abstract

Little is known about the use of acupuncture in general practice. We performed a retrospective review of the use of acupuncture in relieving musculoskeletal pain, a condition that is commonly encountered in general practice. A sample of 116 patient records was reviewed, from which 92 patients (mean age 52 years; 64% female) met the inclusion criterion of musculoskeletal pain. Information obtained included age, sex, diagnosis, duration of the problem, length of treatment (weeks), number of treatments, duration of each treatment (minutes), number of needles used, level of benefit obtained from the treatment, and recurrence of pain. There were many different conditions encountered. We found an association between the general practitioner using fewer needles and patients experiencing greater pain relief. This could be a reflection of treating myofascial pain syndromes, which often appear to respond well to a single needle in the key trigger point. Overall, we found that sixty-nine percent of patients had a good or excellent response to acupuncture treatment. We recommend acupuncture as a treatment option for patients who do not respond to the usual therapies (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) for musculoskeletal conditions.

Use of Acupuncture for the Chronic Neck Pain: Application to Adults as Part of Primary Health Care

“…The present study was conducted in a public service of primary attention and the improvements perceived in the levels of the patients' health aroused the idea that an increase in the offer of this type of therapy is desirable in view of fact that some authors verified clinically pertinent benefits in patients attended by acupuncture, in these services (Valdés et al, 2001;Vickers et al, 2004;Vas et al, 2007;Witt et al, 2008). Furthermore the use of the mentioned therapy constitutes an alternative important to the treatment of patients who do not respond to the conventional medical treatment applied to musculoskeletal pains (Kam et al, 2002).…”

Acupuncture in pain medicine: An integrated approach to the management of refractory pain

“…The acupuncture group improved in walking, climbing stairs, and pain levels; the control group deteriorated as time passed [26]. Although knee osteoarthritis appears to be one of the best indications for acupuncture, other common musculoskeletal disorders such as cervical and lumbar facet disease, painful disorders of the hip joint, and myofascial pain syndrome also are appropriate indications [27][28][29].…”

Acupuncture therapeutic protocols for the management of temporomandibular disorders

“…Studies have shown that acupuncture to treat musculoskeletal pain is a promising technique. In a study with 92 patients, 69% had good or excellent response to treatment, with at least 30% pain decrease 36 . In our study, all articles show a predilection for IG4 as a distant point with very strong energetic action.…”

“…Points Taiyang and Yintang are extra points of easy access and greatly improve painful symptoms of TMD patients 27 . Currently, and following the Western vision, channels or meridians through which the whole energy of our body circulates are considered integrative or functional areas where there is the participation of several local and systemic systems, such as nervous, circulatory, lymphatic, endocrine and immune systems, among others 17,26,36 . Acupuncture action mechanisms may be explained by three principles.…”

“…In our study, all articles show a predilection for IG4 as a distant point with very strong energetic action. IG4 has excellent function as potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic 13,36 . Even so, many meridians and points had more indications and utilization.…”