[Correlation between the number of sessions and therapeutical effect in patients suffering from low back pain treated with acupuncture: a randomized controlled blind study].

AIM: The aim of this study is to verify the therapeutical effect of acupuncture reflexotherapy in low back pain treatment and to test if the number of sessions could influence the results at the end of therapy. METHODS: Thirty-one patients, suffering from low back pain, were randomly divided into 2 groups: the first group (16 patients, 5 males and 11 females, mean age 57.17 +/- 13.06 years) received 5 weekly somatic acupuncture sessions; the second group (15 patients, 4 males and 11 females, mean age 49.36 +/- 11.98 years) underwent 10 weekly somatic acupuncture sessions. The acupoints used were the same in both groups. Pain was monitored by a daily self rating chart. Pain was recorded using a card filled in by the patient, every day. At the end of therapy, a remaining pain scored between 0% and 50% of original pain was considered a good result; unsatisfactory result was a pain between 51% and 80%; poor result a score of 81% or more of original pain. RESULTS: In the first group, 11 patients (68.75%) obtained a good result, 1 patient (6.25%) an unsatisfactory result and 4 patients (25%) a poor result. The remaining pain was 65.5% of the original pain (unsatisfactory result). In the second second group, 13 patients (86.66%) obtained a good result and 2 patients (13.33%) a poor result. The remaining pain was 43.9% of the original pain (good result). CONCLUSION: Ten sessions of acupuncture seem to gain a better therapeutical effect than 5 in the treatment of chronic low back pain.