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Acupuncture for Chronic Low Back Pain in Older Adults

NCT04982315 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 807

Last updated 2026-01-06

Study results available
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Summary

The main goal of the BackInAction research study is to determine the effectiveness of a standard course of acupuncture (15 sessions of acupuncture over 3 months) and an enhanced course of acupuncture (an additional 6 sessions of acupuncture over months 4-6) in improving back-related disability in older adults (65+ years) with chronic low back pain compared to usual care alone. Key secondary aims are to determine the effectiveness of acupuncture in improving a composite score of pain intensity and pain interference.

Conditions

  • Chronic Low-back Pain

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Standard Acupuncture

The standard acupuncture intervention is based on classical Chinese acupuncture therapy. Participants randomized to standard acupuncture will receive up to 15 acupuncture treatments over 3 months with the total number being determined by the patient and acupuncturist together. All treatments will include acupuncture needling only. They will be provided at medical facilities or in private acupuncturists' offices.

PROCEDURE

Enhanced Acupuncture

The enhanced acupuncture intervention includes the 3 months of standard acupuncture plus an additional 3 months of maintenance acupuncture. Participants randomized to enhanced acupuncture will receive up to 21 acupuncture treatments over 6 months. The maintenance acupuncture treatment sessions are expected to consist of the same intervention used in the first 3 months of care described in the standard acupuncture arm, plus up to 6 treatments during the maintenance phase. All treatments will include acupuncture needling only. They will be provided at medical facilities or in private acupuncturists' offices.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

    collaborator NIH

  • Kaiser Permanente

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Lynn L DeBar, PhD, MPH · Kaiser Permanente

  • Andrea J Cook, PhD · Kaiser Permanente

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
65 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2021-08-12
Primary Completion
2024-02-07
Completion
2024-02-07

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT04982315 on ClinicalTrials.gov