Effects of auricular acupuncture on chronic pain in people with back musculoskeletal disorders

a randomized clinical trial

Authors

  • Caroline de Castro Moura Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Escola de Enfermagem. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem
  • Erika de Cássia Lopes Chaves Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Escola de Enfermagem
  • Tânia Couto Machado Chianca Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Escola de Enfermagem, Departamento de Enfermagem Básica
  • Silvia Graciela Ruginsk Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas
  • Denismar Alves Nogueira Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Departamento de Estatística
  • Denise Hollanda Iunes Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Escola de Enfermagem, Departamento de Fisioterapia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1980-220x2018009003418

Keywords:

Chronic Pain, Musculoskeletal Pain, Acupuncture, Ear, Rehabilitation, Holistic Nursing, Complementary Therapies

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effects of auricular acupuncture on pain intensity, its impact on daily activities, the relief provided by the intervention, and the pain threshold in people with back musculoskeletal disorders. Methods: Randomized clinical trial carried out with people randomly allocated into three groups: treatment, placebo, and control. Evaluations were performed using the Brief Pain Inventory and a digital algometer before (initial) and after (final) the treatment and after a 15-day follow-up period. Results: The sample was 110 people. There was a decrease in pain intensity in the treatment and placebo groups as revealed by the comparison between the initial and final evaluations (p<0.05), and in the treatment group in the comparison between the initial and followup evaluations (p<0.05). A decreased impact of pain on daily activities in the treatment and placebo groups over time was found (p<0.05). At the final evaluation, the impact of pain was lower in the treatment group (p<0.05). Auricular acupuncture did not increase the pain threshold. Conclusion: Auricular acupuncture presented positive effects by reducing the chronic pain intensity and its impact on daily activities in people with back musculoskeletal disorders. Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry: RBR-5X69X2

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Published

2019-03-12

Issue

Section

Original Articles

How to Cite

Moura, C. de C., Chaves, E. de C. L., Chianca, T. C. M., Ruginsk, S. G., Nogueira, D. A., & Iunes, D. H. (2019). Effects of auricular acupuncture on chronic pain in people with back musculoskeletal disorders: a randomized clinical trial. Revista Da Escola De Enfermagem Da USP, 53, e03418. https://doi.org/10.1590/s1980-220x2018009003418