Standardized versus Individualized Acupuncture for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Table 2
Primary and secondary outcomes at 8 and 26 weeks (adjusted for baseline value and participant’s expectation)*.
Standardized acupuncture mean (95% CI)
Individualized acupuncture mean (95% CI)
Differences individualized versus standardized acupuncture (95% CI)
value
Overall low back pain—area under the curve** (sum of daily VAS): week 1 to 8µ
1,482.9 (1,177.2; 1,788.7)
1,768.7 (1,460.4; 2,077.1)
285.8 (−33.9; 605.5)
0.080
Mean overall low back pain: (mean daily VAS): weeks 1 to 8µ
26.5 (21.0; 31.9)
31.6 (26.1; 37.1)
5.1 (−0.6; 10.8)
0.080
Days with pain medication: weeks 1 to 8µ
4.9 (0.4; 9.3)
5.6 (1.2; 10.0)
0.7 (−3.9; 5.4)
0.752
Days with physiotherapy: weeks 1 to 8µ
2.1 (0.1; 4.0)
1.9 (0.01; 3.8)
−0.2 (−2.2; 1.8)
0.867
Number of acupuncture therapy sessions
9.8 (8.4; 11.2)
10.3 (8.9; 11.7)
0.5 (−0.3; 1.3)
0.226
Duration of therapy (minutes per week)
41.1 (30.7; 51.5)
44.4 (34.4; 54.4)
3.3 (−2.6; 9.3)
0.272
Average low back pain during the previous 7 days (VAS)
8 weeks
27.4 (21.2; 33.7)
28.7 (23.4; 34.0)
1.3 (−5.8; 8.4)
0.723
26 weeks
27.3 (21.0; 33.7)
30.5 (24.6; 36.3)
3.1 (−4.5; 10.8)
0.424
Low back pain/disability (HFAQ#)
8 weeks
25.8 (21.9; 29.6)
27.5 (22.8; 32.1)
1.7 (−3.4; 6.8)
0.513
26 weeks
24.3 (20.4; 28.3)
25.9 (21.0; 30.8)
1.5 (−3.7; 6.8)
0.569
SF-36 quality of life (SF-36#)
Physical health at 8 weeks
42.7 (40.3; 45.1)
42.1 (40.1; 44.1)
−0.5 (−3.5; 2.4)
0.714
Physical health at 26 weeks
43.1 (40.7; 45.5)
41.7 (39.5; 43.8)
−1.5 (−4.5; 1.6)
0.343
Mental health at 8 weeks
49.5 (47.0; 52.1)
50.0 (47.4; 52.6)
0.4 (−2.7; 3.6)
0.788
Mental health at 26 weeks
48.8 (46.1; 51.6)
50.7 (47.9; 53.5)
1.9 (−1.6; 5.4)
0.287
Sick leave days
8 weeks
4.8 (1.8; 7.8)
4.5 (1.5; 7.4)
−0.3 (−3.4; 2.8)
0.843
26 weeks (previous 4 months)
9.0 (3.6; 14.4)
9.7 (4.1; 15.2)
0.6 (−4.8; 6.0)
0.817
VAS: visual analogue scale for assessing the average low back pain intensity; HFAQ: Hannover Functional Ability Questionnaire; SF-36: 36-item quality-of-life questionnaire.
*The area under the curve was evaluated using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) including treatment group, with baseline value and participants’ initial expectation from treatment as covariates. Secondary outcome parameters were analysed by similar ANCOVA or generalized estimating equation (GEE) models in a similar fashion. µBased on daily data from a diary. Lower values indicate better status.
#Higher values indicate better status.
**The area under the curve (AUC) represents the sum of daily VAS scores (0–100) over 8 weeks.
