Effectiveness and safety of moxibustion treatment for non-specific lower back pain: protocol for a systematic review

Abstract

IntroductionMany patients experience acute lower back pain that becomes chronic pain. The proportion of patients using complementary and alternative medicine to treat lower back is increasing. Even though several moxibustion clinical trials for lower back pain have been conducted, the effectiveness and safety of moxibustion intervention is controversial. The purpose of this study protocol for a systematic review is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of moxibustion treatment for non-specific lower back pain patients.Methods and analysisWe will conduct an electronic search of several databases from their inception to May 2017, including Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trial, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, Wanfang Database, Chongqing VIP Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, Korean Medical Database, Korean Studies Information Service System, National Discovery for Science Leaders, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, the Korea Institute of Science and Technology, and KoreaMed. Randomised controlled trials investigating any type of moxibustion treatment will be included. The primary outcome will be pain intensity and functional status/disability due to lower back pain. The secondary outcome will be a global measurement of recovery or improvement, work-related outcomes, radiographic improvement of structure, quality of life, and adverse events (presence or absence). Risk ratio or mean differences with a 95% confidence interval will be used to show the effect of moxibustion therapy when it is possible to conduct a meta-analysis.Ethics and disseminationThis review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and will be presented at an international academic conference for dissemination. Our results will provide current evidence of the effectiveness and safety of moxibustion treatment in non-specific lower back pain patients, and thus will be beneficial to patients, practitioners, and policymakers.Trial registration numberCRD42016047468 in PROSPERO 2016

Efficacy and safety of thread embedding acupuncture combined with conventional acupuncture for chronic low back pain

“…[25] Patients with chronic low back pain also exhibit a poorer quality of life than do healthy individuals. [26] Because many patients are not satisfied with conventional medicine treatment, [7] the demand for CAM is only increasing.…”

“…[5] Although conventional western medicine treatment has shown efficacy for the treatment of back pain, [6] several patients still experience pain and require alternative treatment strategies. [7] In fact, the number of patients opting for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is gradually increasing. [8] Acupuncture, moxibustion, chiropractic manipulation, massage, yoga, Tai chi, and Qigong are frequently used CAM therapies.…”

“…[8] Acupuncture, moxibustion, chiropractic manipulation, massage, yoga, Tai chi, and Qigong are frequently used CAM therapies. [7,8]…”

Effects of moxibustion on reproduction and metabolism of polycystic ovary syndrome: a protocol for meta-analysis and systematic review

“…It has been widely used in China for thousands of years owing to its simplicity, convenience, effectiveness and low price. [16][17][18][19] It is generally considered that moxibustion exerts the therapeutic role mainly through infrared heat stimulation to human body and pharmacological action of the moxa strip itself. Latest researches have confirmed the biological function of moxibustion in regulating the body's nerve-endocrine-immune network, blood circulation system and metabolism in two directions to restore and maintain the body's health.…”

TCM nonpharmacological interventions for chronic low-back pain

“… [22] In recent years, a number of basic and clinical studies have proved moxibustion is beneficial for the treatment of CLBP. [ 23 24 25 26 27 ] Acupressure, another treatment modality of Chinese traditional medicine, is a gentle but firm pressing stimulation on meridians and acupoints, and the efficacy of acupressure in pain relief associated with LBP has been proven by several clinical randomized controlled trials. [ 28 29 30 31 32 33 ] Tuina, a manual therapy in traditional Chinese medicine, emphasizes anatomy and physiology when used for neuromusculoskeletal disorders, which is currently widely used for the treatment of CLBP.…”