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Study: Even 'Fake' Acupuncture Eases Back Pain

Back pain sufferers reported less pain with or without needles being used

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted May 12, 2009 9:28 AM CDT

(Newser) – Acupuncture without the puncture helped relieve back pain in a new study, Reuters reports. Researchers divided patients with chronic back pain into several groups and discovered that the groups who received conventional acupuncture with needles and those who received simulated acupuncture with toothpicks reported greater—and almost identical—pain relief compared to those who received standard medical care.

The researchers couldn't pinpoint what it was about the real and simulated acupuncture that caused the pain relief, although they cited other research showing that even lightly touching the skin can induce hormonal reactions, and speculated that even light stimulation of acupuncture points could be enough to make a difference. "Historically, some types of acupuncture have used non-penetrating needles," one researcher said. "Such treatments may involve physiological effects that make a clinical difference."

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An acupuncturist adjusts needles in a patient being treated for back pain. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

The researchers said they had been unable to determine whether or not the pain relief was caused by a placebo effect. (©Thunderchild tm)

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Our study shows that you don't need to stick needles into people to get the
same effect. - Dr. Daniel Cherkin of Group Health Center for Health Studies in Seattle

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Study: Even 'Fake' Acupuncture Eases Back Pain