JOURNAL ARTICLE

Acupuncture for the treatment of pregnancy-related low back pain: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

  • Published In: Journal of Back & Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, 2025, v. 38, n. 5. P. 960 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Li, Min; Xiao, Zongyi; Tan, Dongling; Tang, Xixi; Zhao, Daqiang; Chen, Qi 3 of 3

Abstract

This article focuses on a network meta-analysis comparing the effects of acupuncture, sham acupuncture (SAcu), and standard care (SC) on pregnancy-related low back pain (LBP). Analyzing eight randomized controlled trials with 864 pregnant women, the study found that both acupuncture and SAcu provided greater pain relief than SC, with no significant difference in pain intensity between acupuncture and SAcu. However, acupuncture was superior to both SAcu and SC in overall treatment effectiveness and quality of life (QOL), as measured by the Short Form-36 Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36). The findings suggest that while acupuncture and SAcu share analgesic benefits, acupuncture may offer additional advantages in treatment outcomes and QOL, though further high-quality research is needed due to study limitations and risk of bias.

Additional Information

  • Source:Journal of Back & Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation. 2025/09, Vol. 38, Issue 5, p960
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Complementary and Alternative Medicine
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:1053-8127
  • DOI:10.1177/10538127241301682
  • Accession Number:187310749
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Journal of Back & Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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