Battlefield Acupuncture for Low Back Pain
| Status: | Recruiting |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Back Pain, Back Pain |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Musculoskeletal |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - 50 |
| Updated: | 4/17/2018 |
| Start Date: | March 23, 2018 |
| End Date: | November 9, 2020 |
| Contact: | Candy Wilson, PhD |
| Email: | candy.wilson@usuhs.edu |
| Phone: | 301-295-1468 |
The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of Battlefield Acupuncture (BFA) on
outcomes for pain, sleep, and physical activity level in an active duty military sample with
subacute or chronic lower back pain (LBP). BFA is a form of auricular acupuncture (AA) that
has been implemented in many Department of Defense (DoD)/Veterans Affairs (VA) medical
settings to alleviate acute or chronic pain. BFA uses five predetermined locations in a
defined sequence to place semi-permanent needles in the ear. Subacute lower back pain is pain
that has persistently lasted from four to twelve weeks. Chronic lower back pain is pain that
lasts more than 12 weeks.
Hypothesis 1: Participants with subacute or chronic LBP will have reduced pain using BFA as
compared to placebo.
Hypothesis 2: Participants with subacute or chronic LBP will have improved physical activity
using BFA as compared to placebo.
Hypothesis 3: Participants with subacute or chronic LBP will have improved sleep quality as
compared to placebo.
The secondary study aims are:
1. To explore the effects of BFA two weeks following the treatment for LBP.
1. Do positive outcomes appreciated with BFA persist over two weeks?
2. What is the pain medication usage during and after intervention treatments?
2. To explore the effectiveness of BFA on trunk flexion mobility and balance.
1. Does pain reduction improve trunk flexion and balance?
2. Does improved truck flexion mobility and balance contribute to increased physical
activity?
outcomes for pain, sleep, and physical activity level in an active duty military sample with
subacute or chronic lower back pain (LBP). BFA is a form of auricular acupuncture (AA) that
has been implemented in many Department of Defense (DoD)/Veterans Affairs (VA) medical
settings to alleviate acute or chronic pain. BFA uses five predetermined locations in a
defined sequence to place semi-permanent needles in the ear. Subacute lower back pain is pain
that has persistently lasted from four to twelve weeks. Chronic lower back pain is pain that
lasts more than 12 weeks.
Hypothesis 1: Participants with subacute or chronic LBP will have reduced pain using BFA as
compared to placebo.
Hypothesis 2: Participants with subacute or chronic LBP will have improved physical activity
using BFA as compared to placebo.
Hypothesis 3: Participants with subacute or chronic LBP will have improved sleep quality as
compared to placebo.
The secondary study aims are:
1. To explore the effects of BFA two weeks following the treatment for LBP.
1. Do positive outcomes appreciated with BFA persist over two weeks?
2. What is the pain medication usage during and after intervention treatments?
2. To explore the effectiveness of BFA on trunk flexion mobility and balance.
1. Does pain reduction improve trunk flexion and balance?
2. Does improved truck flexion mobility and balance contribute to increased physical
activity?
Inclusion Criteria:
- Diagnosis of LBP (pain for > 4 weeks, with or without radiating nerve pain
- Age 18 to 50 years
- Active duty military, Public Health Service, or Coast Guard (guard and reserve on
active orders)
- Pain score 3/10 or higher as patient reported on the DVPRS
- mODI score ≥ 20%
- No anticipated prolonged temporary duty, deployment, or vacation within the next
month.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Any severe comorbidity
- LBP neurologic "red flags" indicating serious spinal pathology (i.e. bowel or bladder
dysfunction)
- Auricular acupuncture in the past 6 months
- Use of steroids in the month prior to the study
- Hemorrhagic disorders
- Malignancy
- Unexplained weight loss
- Severe scoliosis or congenital spine disorder
- Back pain because of a visceral problem (e.g. endometriosis)
- Under surgeon's care for back surgery within the last 12 months
- Balance disorder
- Pregnancy or suspected pregnancy (last menstrual period will be reported by the
patient)
- Aversion to needles
- Previous keloid scar formation
- Active infection on the ear
- Bleeding disorder
- Metal allergy
- Mental health diagnosis requiring medication (depression, PTSD, etc)
- Untreated sleep apnea or other sleep disorders
We found this trial at
1
site
1060 West Perimeter Road
Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland 20762
Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland 20762
Phone: 253-355-5428
Click here to add this to my saved trials
