Acupuncture for Low Back Pain: What this Research Study Says
By: Carla Thomas, L.Ac.
Low back pain is one of the most common reasons people come to see me. It can make sitting at a desk, lifting a grandchild, or getting a good night's sleep feel like a project. Many people have already tried rest, stretching and over-the-counter pain relievers by the time they walk through my door, and they want to know one thing: can acupuncture help me?
There's a lot of research on this. In this post I want to focus on one study that stands out: one of the largest acupuncture trials ever done in older adults in the United States, published in 2025.
The ‘BackInAction’ trial in older adults
For years, there was a gap in the research: very few large studies looked specifically at adults 65 and older. That matters because Medicare coverage decisions depend on evidence in that age group. The BackInAction trial, published in JAMA Network Open in 2025 and funded by the NIH, was designed to fill that gap.
What the study did:
It enrolled 800 adults aged 65 and older with chronic low back pain. Their average age was 73.6.
People were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups:
Standard acupuncture: 8 to 15 sessions over 12 weeks, plus their usual medical care
Standard acupuncture plus maintenance: the same course, plus 4 to 6 extra sessions over the next 12 weeks
Usual medical care only
Treatments were given by licensed acupuncturists. Acupuncturist were able to choose points based off of the patient’s case.
The trial tested acupuncture needling alone. The protocol didn't allow electroacupuncture, cupping, moxibustion, heat, gua sha, tuina or herbs.
What they found:
At 6 months, both acupuncture groups had less back-pain-related disability than the usual care group.
The benefit was still there at 12 months.
People who got acupuncture were more likely to have a meaningful improvement in function at 6 months: 39.1% with standard acupuncture and 43.8% with acupuncture plus maintenance, versus 29.4% with usual care alone.
Safety: Serious adverse events were low and similar across groups. Fewer than 1% were possibly related to acupuncture.
A few things to keep in mind: The study combined acupuncture with usual medical care. It didn't compare it with "fake" or “sham” acupuncture. The average improvement in disability was modest. The participants were all 65 or older, so the results apply most directly to that age group. Still, this was a large, well-designed trial in real-world clinics, and the authors concluded that acupuncture is an effective and safe treatment option for older adults with chronic low back pain.
What this means for you:
Acupuncture isn't a magic fix, and everyone's back is different. As you can see from the numbers acupuncture by itself didn’t help 100% of the people and that is the case in my clinic. I often see the best results when patients with chronic pain are seeing me and at least 1 other provider, whether that’s massage, physical therapy or chiropractic care. I will help figure out which modality will be the best for you and your needs.
If low back pain is keeping you from the things you love, I'd be glad to talk with you about whether acupuncture is a good fit. You can book online at cascadepeakwellness.com or call or text 503-484-3932.
This post is for general education and isn't a substitute for medical advice. Please talk with your healthcare provider about your specific situation.
Reference
DeBar LL, Wellman RD, Justice M, et al. Acupuncture for Chronic Low Back Pain in Older Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2025. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.31348. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40938602/ (full text: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12432643/)