NIH Study Finds Acupuncture Helps Older Adults' Back Pain

An NIH-funded randomized trial called 'BackInAction' enrolled 800 U.S. adults age 65 and older with chronic low back pain and compared usual care alone versus usual care plus acupuncture (either up to 15 sessions over three months or up to 21 sessions including maintenance over six months). Researchers—led by Lynn DeBar, Ph.D., and Andrea Cook, Ph.D.—report that participants receiving acupuncture had greater reductions in pain-related disability at six and 12 months, along with lower pain intensity, improved physical function and fewer anxiety symptoms. The study is presented as evidence that acupuncture can be a less invasive, safer alternative to some common treatments for older adults, with potential implications for clinical practice and efforts to reduce opioid use.