JAMA Netw Open

Acupuncture improves function in older adults with chronic low back pain

September 16, 2025

Acupuncture offers a safe, non-pharmacologic option for managing chronic low back pain (CLBP) in older adults, with benefits comparable to conventional treatments. These findings support broader integration of acupuncture into geriatric pain care and may inform Medicare policy to expand access through direct billing by licensed acupuncturists.

Study details: A large, pragmatic, three-arm randomized trial (BackInAction; NCT04982315) enrolled 800 adults aged ≥65 years with CLBP. Participants were assigned to standard acupuncture (SA; 8–15 sessions over 12 weeks), enhanced acupuncture (EA; additional 4–6 sessions), or usual medical care (UMC) alone. Primary outcome was change in Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) score at 6 months, with follow-up to 12 months. Secondary outcomes included pain intensity and percentage of participants with clinically meaningful (≥30%) improvements.

Results: At 6 months, both acupuncture groups demonstrated clinically meaningful improvements in pain and function compared with UMC. EA showed a relative benefit over SA in reducing pain intensity. The proportion of participants achieving significant improvement in disability (≥30% reduction in RMDQ score) was higher in the SA group (39.1%; adjusted relative risk [aRR] 1.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04–1.70) and EA group (43.8%; aRR 1.49; 95% CI, 1.19–1.86), compared with UMC (29.4%). These benefits persisted through 12 months. Serious adverse events were rare (<1%) and comparable across groups, with minimal attribution to acupuncture.

Source:

DeBar LL, et al. (2025, September 2). JAMA Netw Open. Acupuncture for Chronic Low Back Pain in Older Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40938602/