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Acupuncture significantly improves lower back or pelvic pain during pregnancy
Acupuncture can significantly relieve the low back and/or pelvic pain that women often experience during their pregnancy, suggests a pooled data analysis of available evidence published in the open access journal BMJ Open. And there were no observable major side effects for newborns whose mothers chose the therapy, the results show, although few of the published studies included in the analysis assessed outcomes such as preterm birth, the researchers note. Acupuncture is emerging as a potential therapy for various types of pain because it requires no medication and is considered safe, researchers say. How exactly...
Acupuncture significantly improves lower back or pelvic pain during pregnancy
Acupuncture can significantly relieve the low back and/or pelvic pain that women often experience during their pregnancy, suggests a pooled data analysis of available evidence published in the open access journal BMJ Open.
And there were no observable major side effects for newborns whose mothers chose the therapy, the results show, although few of the published studies included in the analysis assessed outcomes such as preterm birth, the researchers note.
Acupuncture is emerging as a potential therapy for various types of pain because it requires no medication and is considered safe, researchers say.
Exactly how it can relieve pain is not clear, but it is thought to involve the release of the body's "happy" chemicals - endorphins - as well as an increase in blood flow to local skin and muscles.
However, whether it can relieve the debilitating back and/or pelvic pain that up to 90% of women suffer during their pregnancy remains hotly debated.
To supplement the evidence base, researchers searched research databases for relevant clinical trials that compared the pain relief provided to pregnant women by acupuncture alone or in combination with other therapies to other/no/sham treatments, as well as the potential effects on their newborns.
The final analysis included 10 randomized controlled trials involving 1040 women. Each study was published between 2000 and 2020 and was conducted variously in Sweden, the UK, the US, Spain and Brazil.
The expectant mothers were all healthy, an average of 17 to 30 weeks into their pregnancy, and had back and/or pelvic pain.
Acupuncture was performed either by trained acupuncturists, physiotherapists or midwives. Seven studies described body acupuncture; three described auricular (earlobe) acupuncture.
All studies reported the acupuncture points for treatment, needle indwelling time, and dose. In 7 cases, points normally considered contraindicated in pregnancy were used; “forbidden points” -;
Pooled data analysis of study results from 9 studies suggested that acupuncture significantly reduced pain during pregnancy.
Of the studies (4) that reported the potential of acupuncture to restore physical function, the results showed that it was significantly improved.
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Quality of life was recorded in 5 studies. When the results of these were pooled, the results suggested that acupuncture significantly improved this too.
Pooled data analysis of 4 studies showed that there was a significant difference in overall effects when acupuncture was compared with other or no interventions.
But pooled data analysis of 2 studies reporting on painkillers showed no difference in use between those who were given acupuncture and those who were given nothing.
Adjusted pooled data analysis also suggested that acupuncture is safe, and for the 4 studies that reported it, there was no significant difference in newborn health scores (Apgar) when comparing acupuncture with other interventions or none.
Only one study reported gestational age and this study was not included in the pooled data analysis. Preterm labor was reported in 2 studies, but these babies were in good health at birth.
Seven studies recorded other expected minor side effects for the expectant mothers such as pain, soreness and bleeding at the needle site, and sleepiness. Nevertheless, participants rated acupuncture positively and most were willing to repeat it if necessary.
However, the researchers caution: The number of studies included was relatively small and their quality fluctuated. Furthermore, the design, methodology, results, and participant characteristics differed significantly. And in 2 studies the dropout rate in the comparison group was over 20%.
Nevertheless, they conclude that acupuncture deserves closer attention because of its potential for pain relief at a time when it is preferable to avoid medications because of their potential side effects for mother and child.
"Acupuncture improved pain, functional status, and quality of life in women with [lower back/pelvic pain] during pregnancy. Additionally, acupuncture had no observable serious adverse effects on the newborns," they write.
“Larger and well-designed [randomized controlled trials] are still needed to further confirm these results,” they add.
Source:
Reference:
Yang, J., et al. (2022) Acupuncture for low back and/or pelvic pain during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. BMJ opened. doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-056878.
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