A Taiwanese study has compared the effects of acupressure (six treatments) with standard physical therapy (including pelvic manual traction, spinal manipulation, electrical stimulation and exercise therapy) for the treatment of lower back pain. 129 patients with chronic lower back pain were assigned randomly to one of the two treatment groups.
The acupressure group experienced an 89% greater relief of disability compared to the physical therapy group, and the benefit lasted at follow-up six months later. The acupressure group also reported greater improvement in leg pain, interference of pain with normal work and days off from work or school.
(Lisa Li-Chen Hsieh et al. Treatment of low back pain by acupressure and physical therapy: randomised controlled trial. BMJ, Mar 2006; 332: 696-700).
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