文档介绍：SPINE Volume 24, Number 11, pp 1113–1123
©1999, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.
The Effectiveness of Acupuncture in the Management
of Acute and Chronic Low Back Pain
A Systematic Review Within the Framework of the Cochrane
Collaboration Back Review Group
Maurits W. van Tulder, PhD,* Daniel C. Cherkin, PhD,† Brian Berman, MD,‡
Lixing Lao, PhD, LAc,‡ and Bart W. Koes, PhD*
ease that tends to improve spontaneously over time,36 a
Study Design. A systematic review of randomized con- large variety of therapeutic interventions are available
trolled trials. for its However, the effectiveness
Objectives. To evaluate the efficacy and effectiveness
of acupuncture for the management of nonspecific low claimed for most of these interventions has not been con-
back pain. vincingly demonstrated and, consequently, the therapeu-
Summary of Background Data. Acupuncture is one of tic management of LBP varies widely.
the oldest forms of therapy, but little is known about the Acupuncture, one of the oldest forms of therapy, has its
effectiveness of acupuncture for low back pain. roots in ancient Chinese philosophy. Traditional Chinese
Methods. Randomized controlled trials were done to
assess the effectiveness of all types of acupuncture treat- medicine is based on a number of philosophical con-
ment, which involves needling for subjects with nonspe- cepts, one of which postulates that any manifestation of
cific low back pain. Two reviewers blinded with respect to disease is considered a sign of imbalance between the yin
authors, institution, and journal independently assessed and yang forces in the body. In classical acupuncture
the methodologic quality of the studies. Because data
were statistically and clinically too heterogeneous, a qual- theory, it is believed that all disorders are reflected at
itative review was performed. The evidence was classi- specific points either on the skin surface or just beneath
fied into four