Can Acupuncture Alleviate Lower Back and Pelvic Pain in Pregnant Women?

AHA Publisher — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 08:00:24 +0000

Dr. Priyom Bose, Ph.D. via News-Medical – Globally, a significant fraction of pregnant women experiences low back and/or pelvic pain (LBPP). LBPP limits the endurance capacity of women while standing, walking, or sitting for a prolonged period. This affects their quality of life and puts restrictions on activities related to weight-bearing. Scientists have recently reviewed available evidence on the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture in treating LBPP during pregnancy. This review is available in BMJ Open. This meta-analysis utilized electronic databases, such as PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, to obtain relevant data. What Is LBPP? Clinically, LBPP has been defined as pain in the distal and posterior pelvic regions lateral to the lumbar-sacral junction and between the 12th rib and the gluteal fold. These two types of pains are hard to distinguish. Additionally, women with LBPP often experience depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Mechanistically, the level of relaxin increases significantly during pregnancy, which is produced by the corpus luteum and the uterine decidua. The increased relaxin level enhances motion in the pelvic joints causing LBPP. Although massage therapy, special pillows, and physical therapy are commonly used to alleviate LBPP, these are not clinically recommended as the results of clinical trials on their effectiveness is unclear. Hence, there is a need for effective therapies for LBPP treatment during pregnancy. Effectiveness Acupuncture originated in China, and is associated with inserting solid and thin metallic needles into acupoints along the meridians (ancient physiological system). The meridian theory entails that the body’s vital energy flows through the meridians, i.e., internal organs. It was believed that an unrest condition of the internal organs is reflected at specific points, known as acupoints. At present, acupuncture therapy is practiced in many countries to remediate headaches, dental pains, myofascial pain, and many other pains. Although the underlying analgesic mechanism of acupuncture is not clear, several studies have indicated its association with the neurohumoral mechanism, where an increase in the cerebrospinal fluid endorphins and spinal dynorphins was observed after acupuncture. In contrast to the adverse effects of pain-relieving drugs on pregnant women, acupuncture is considered to be safe and has been used increasingly to relieve the discomforts of pregnancy. Nevertheless, there is scarce clinical data on the effectiveness of acupuncture among pregnant women with LBPP. An increased rate of withdrawal of participants was observed in a clinical study related to randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture in women prior to 37 weeks of pregnancy. This is because the participants were concerned about harming their unborn children. After all, the clinical trial was designed to use “forbidden points” for acupuncture. Based on the findings of 10 studies that included a total of 1040 women with LBPP during pregnancy, the current study revealed that acupuncture significantly alleviated LBPP and improved their quality of life during the pregnancy period. Importantly, no adverse pregnancy outcomes including preterm labor were found in patients under acupuncture treatment. Out of the total of seven studies that used “forbidden points’’ for acupuncture treatment, two studies reported preterm birth. However, all newborns were healthy at birth despite preterm contractions. This meta-analysis indicated that acupuncture was a relatively safe and effective intervention in treating women with LBPP during pregnancy. The observation of this review is in line with a previous systemic review that revealed acupuncture for LBPP during pregnancy was a safe and effective procedure. According to a recent meta-analysis, acupuncture treatment relieved the pain for both pregnant and postpartum women. Nevertheless, this meta-analysis only considered a small number of studies and failed to assess the safety profile of maternal acupuncture and its effect on the newborn. Study Limitations The current study included patients whose average age was less than 35 years of age, thus reducing the generalization of the findings. Another limitation of this meta-analysis is the assessment of a small number of studies. The authors did not evaluate the quality of the studies considered in the meta-analysis. Since none of the studies reported the cost of acupuncture treatment, the cost-effectiveness of this therapy was not determined. Conclusions During pregnancy, women are subjected to minimal pharmaceutical interventions, unless absolutely necessary. Non-pharmacological therapies, such as yoga, acupuncture, physical therapy, and exercise are the most attractive options to reduce pain and control comorbidities. Interestingly, several studies have indicated that acupuncture can effectively reduce pain as well as alleviate severe depression in pregnant women with LBPP. In the future, large, multicentre RCTs must be conducted by surveying physiotherapists, midwives, and pregnant women. More clinical trials must be conducted with a robust methodology to minimize biased results. Considering the effectiveness of acupuncture therapy, it is imperative to optimize the intervention protocol, i.e., acupoints, frequency, and duration. Journal reference: Yang, J. et al. (2022) Acupuncture for low back and/or pelvic pain during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ Open. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-056878 https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/12/e056878 To read the original article click here.

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Discover 7 Benefits of Acupuncture

AHA Publisher — Wed, 18 May 2022 07:00:13 +0000

Wendy Miller via NaturalHealth365 – Acupuncture is a centuries-old remedy that was first used in China. As a staple of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), it can be used in many ways. Because it improves and enhances energy flow throughout the body, its health-promoting benefits are numerous. Studies suggest acupuncture treatments may help relieve pain, enable the body to heal itself, and break bad habits that hinder the body’s energy from flowing. In addition, acupuncture has few side effects and can be used whenever needed to improve health and general well-being. Top Reasons to Try This Time-Tested Intervention Insomnia Insomnia is becoming a growing problem worldwide with devastating consequences on human health. Sleep troubles can lead to various health concerns ranging from depression to heart conditions and possibly a stroke. Studies suggest that although acupuncture may not do the trick right away, its regular use can gradually improve sleep patterns. Fatty Liver Fat around the liver may be caused by excessive alcohol consumption. However, alcohol is not the only cause. An unhealthy diet and a sedentary lifestyle have also been linked to its development. Eating fatty foods with very little exercise can lead to conditions like fatty liver and insulin resistance. Acupuncture is effective at helping to regulate the metabolism of lipids and allows the body use insulin more efficiently. Addiction Although there is limited scientific evidence available to support the use of acupuncture to help with addiction, an animal study found the technique to be a practical therapeutic alternative for treating morphine addiction. With the increase in internet use and other compulsive or addictive behaviors, researchers are hopeful that the use of acupuncture may be able to combat the many different types of addiction that are controlling our lives. Stroke Post-stroke recovery can be a long and difficult process. Healing can take weeks, months, or even years. Thankfully, studies suggest that acupuncture can help improve post-stroke cognitive impairment and restore nervous functions. By stimulating nerves at various points along the meridians, this intervention can spark healing and increase energy flow throughout these areas. Tinnitus Tinnitus is frustrating for those who experience it. A constant ringing or buzzing in the ears can be challenging since there is rarely an underlying cause. Studies have shown that acupuncture can effectively treat tinnitus. Regular maintenance acupuncture therapy sessions can effectively control the symptoms. Obesity Acupuncture has been shown to be effective at supporting healthy weight management in much the same way that it helps to minimize addiction. With regular use, acupuncture helps to reduce cravings and improves overall body mass index. When used with regular exercise and a proper diet, acupuncture may just be the tool you need to achieve your ideal weight. Depression Depression has reached epidemic levels, especially during the COVID era. Yet, tragically, the warning signs are easy to miss unless you notice the subtle changes in a person’s mood and general outlook on life. Acupuncture offers a drug-free alternative to pharmaceutical options with little to no negative side effects. In one study, the technique improved depression among people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). What’s the bottom line? Although the benefits of acupuncture may not always be immediately apparent, clinical trials show promising results with regular use. Anecdotal evidence also suggests that the technique is quite effective at relieving various painful conditions. Contrary to pharmaceuticals, acupuncture has few unwanted side effects, making it a particularly attractive method to stimulate the body’s self-healing mechanisms. Why not give it a try? Sources for this article include: GreenMedinfo.com NIH.gov

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Can Acupuncture Alleviate Lower Back and Pelvic Pain in Pregnant Women?

Discover 7 Benefits of Acupuncture