A Study on the Effectiveness of Tuina in Managing Chronic Low Back Pain

Summary

Low back pain (LBP) is a common clinical symptom prompting patients to seek medical care. 80% of adults experience LBP during their lifetime. The causes of CNLBP are still not fully elucidated and there is currently no gold standard treatment for CNLBP. The mainstay of conservative treatment for CNLBP includes pharmacological interventions, weight loss and physiotherapy.

More recently, Tuina, a component of Traditional Chinese Medicine, has been used to treat CNLBP as well. Tuina is mainly applied to the meridians or acupoints by manipulation techniques such as pushing, grasping, pressing and rubbing of the soft tissues or muscles of the body. It is reported to improve circulation and the qi in the body. However, recent systematic reviews on the efficacy of Tuina in the management of CNLBP were not able to definitively conclude the effectiveness of Tuina due to the poor methodological quality of the studies.

Therefore, this study is a single blind, randomized controlled trial (RCT), which aims to determine the efficacy and safety of Tuina in the management of CNLBP. Similar studies are also conducted in China (First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University) and USA (Mayo Clinic).

Patients from SGH Orthopaedic clinics with CNLBP, will be recruited for this RCT, and will be randomly divided into 3 intervention groups: Physiotherapy intervention group as the control group, Tuina intervention group, and combined intervention (Tuina + Physiotherapy) group. The intervention will last for 2 months, and follow up assessments will be conducted at the 5th month. Outcome measures include Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Spinal range of motion, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), TCM Syndrome scale and quality of life 36 item short form survey, (SF-36).

Conditions

• Chronic Low-back Pain

Interventions

OTHER

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy can be defined as a treatment method that focuses on the science of movement and helps people to restore, maintain and maximize their physical strength, function, motion and overall well-being by addressing the underlying physical issues.

OTHER

Tuina therapy

Tuina is mainly applied to the meridians or acupoints by manipulation techniques such as pushing, grasping, pressing and rubbing of the soft tissues or muscles of the body. It is reported to improve circulation and the qi in the body.

OTHER

Physio and Tuina therapy

Physiotherapy mixed with Tuina

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The Head Foundation

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Singapore General Hospital

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

FACTORIAL

Eligibility

Min Age

21 Years

Max Age

75 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-03-01

Primary Completion

2023-01-31

Completion

2023-05-31

Countries

• Singapore

Study Locations