Effects of acupuncture on quality of life and pain in patients with osteoporosis-a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

Standard analgesic treatment is associated with adverse events in patients with osteoporosis, especially elderly and/or comorbid patients. As acupuncture has gained widespread acceptance as a complementary treatment modality with few side effects, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of acupuncture on the pain and quality of life of patients with osteoporosis. In total, 53 patients with vertebral compression fractures, osteoporosis-associated spinal deformities, and resultant pain were randomly allocated to the verum acupuncture with deep needling of specific points following the principles of traditional Chinese medicine (n=29) or control acupuncture group with superficial needling of non-acupuncture points (n=24). All patients received 10 sessions of standardized verum or control acupuncture treatment over 5weeks. Pain (VAS score 1-100) and quality of life (QUALEFFO-41) were measured at the start of treatment (T0), before each acupuncture session (T1), and at 1 (T2) and 3months (T3) post-treatment. Both acupuncture treatments significantly reduced activity-related pain and pain at rest over time. The verum acupuncture group experienced a significantly greater reduction in mean pain intensity at rest than the control group. In the control group, quality of life improved only temporarily post-treatment (T2) and slightly declined at the end of the follow-up period (T3). In contrast, patients in the verum acupuncture group experienced continuous and significant improvements in quality of life up to 3months after treatment (T3). Both types of acupuncture were equally effective in producing sustained, clinically relevant pain relief in patients with osteoporosis. Verum acupuncture had stronger and longer-lasting effects on quality of life and pain at rest. The possible reasons for these findings include the specificity of acupuncture point selection and the performance of needle stimulation.