A prospective randomized study comparing acupuncture with physiotherapy for low-back and pelvic pain in pregnancy

Background. The aim of this study was to describe the effects of acupunctur e in the treatment of low-back and pelvic pain during pregnancy and compare it with physiotherapy. Methods. Sixty pregnant women were allotted to acupuncture or physiotherapy . The women estimated the severity of their pain using a visual analog scal e (VAS) from 0 to 10 and disability in performing twelve common daily activ ities using a disability-rating index (DRI) from 0 to 10. Results. In the acupuncture group all 30 women completed the study (two exc lusions), in the physiotherapy group only 18. Before treatment the two stud y groups were rather similar with respect to pain and disability. After tre atment the mean morning VAS had declined from 3.4 to 0.9 (p<0.01) in the ac upuncture group and from 3.7 to 2.3 (NS) in the physiotherapy group. The co rresponding evening values had declined from 7.4 to 1.7 (p<0.01) and 6.6 to 4.5 (p<0.01), respectively. The mean VAS values were lower after acupunctu re than after physiotherapy both in the morning (p=0.02) and in the evening (p<0.01). After treatment also the mean DRI values had decreased significa ntly in the acupuncture group for 11 of 12 activities and the values were s ignificantly lower for all activities than in the physiotherapy group where no significant changes had taken place. Overall satisfaction was good in b oth groups. There were no serious adverse events in any of the patients. Conclusions. Acupuncture relieved pain and diminished disability in low-bac k pain during pregnancy better than physiotherapy.