Randomized Trial Comparing Acupuncture, Therapeutic Massage and Self-Care211 Education for Chronic Low Back Pain. Abstract, Executive Summary and Final Report

摘要

Two-hundred sixty-two adults with persistant back pain were randomly allocated to211u001eself-care education, acupuncture, or massage. At the end of the 10-week tratment 211u001eperiod, subjects receiving massage or acupuncture were more satisfied than those 211u001ereceiving self-care education. Massage was found more effective than self-care in 211u001ereducing symptoms and improving function, and more effective than acupuncture in 211u001eimproving function. After one year, outcomes in the massage group were similar to 211u001ethose for self-care but superior to those for acupuncture. The cost of outpatient 211u001ecare for back pain during the follow-up year (excluding the intervention costs) 211u001ewas 30-45% lower in the massage group than in the other groups.