Efficacy Of Core Muscle Exercises Combined With Acupuncture For Chronic Low Back Pain

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of core muscle exercises combined with acupuncture in the treatment of chronic low back pain.MethodsThis was a randomized controlled trial study.From May 2018 to October 2018,80 patients suffered from chronic low back pain were enrolled in this study in Panyu Hospital of Chinese Medicine.They were randomly divided into observation group and control group,40 cases in each group.The observation group was treated with core muscle exercises combined with acupuncture,while the control group was treated with simple acupuncture.VAS score,JOA score,Finger-to-Floor Distance(FFD)test of four directions(forward flexion,extension,left flexion,right flexion)and one-leg stance with eyes closed test were selected to evaluate the efficacy between two groups before treatment?after 3 weeks of treatment and after 6 weeks of treatment.The thickness of transversus abdominis,scores on the Physical Component Summary(PCS)of the SF-36,and scores on the Mental Component Summary(MCS)of the SF-36 were used to compare the efficacy between two groups before treatment and after 6 weeks of treatment.ResultsTotally,80 patients were assigned(1:1).3 patients in observation group and 2 patients in control group withdrew during the interventions.And eventually 75 patients completed the study and were analyzed.1.Pain,function,lumbar motion,and core stability improvements between two groups were observed similiarly after 3 weeks of treatment(P>0.05),however those of the observation group were significantly better than those of the control group after 6 weeks of treatment(P<0.05).After treatment,pain,function,lumbar motion,and core stability of two groups were performed better than those before treatment(P<0.05),which showed a trend of continuing improvement.2.Similar thickness of transversus abdominis between two groups were observed after 6 weeks of treatment(P>0.05),However,the thickness of observation group after treatment was thicker than that before treatment(P<0.05),while the control group showed no significant difference(P>0.05).3.The physical health and mental health were significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group after 6 weeks of treatment(P<0.05),as well as,those of two groups after treatment were significantly higher than before treatment(P<0.05).ConclusionsCore muscle exercises combined with acupuncture can effectively alleviate pain symptoms,improve function?lumbar motion?quality of life and core stability.It could be a efficacy therapy for patients with chronic low back pain.