Efficacy of Electroacupuncture Combined With Auricular Acupressure for Chronic Low Back Pain.

Starting soon · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP), Lumbar Spondylosis

In brief

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) due to lumbar spondylosis is a leading cause of disability, significantly impacting the quality of life in middle-aged and elderly populations. While electroacupuncture (EA) and auricular acupressure (AA) are recognized as safe, non-pharmacological therapies, high-quality clinical evidence specifically evaluating their combined effects on CLBP patients with TCM "Kidney Yin deficiency" syndrome remains limited.This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combining EA with AA (utilizing Vaccaria segetalis seeds) compared to EA combined with sham AA. The study will focus on 76 eligible patients at Le Van Thinh Hospital. Primary objectives are to measure changes in pain intensity (VAS) and functional improvement (ODI) at three intervals: baseline (T0), after 7 days (T1), and upon completion of the 14-day intervention (T2). The findings are expected to provide an evidence-based foundation for an integrated treatment approach to manage chronic lumbar pain effectively.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07530042

Run by

University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City

People needed

76

Starts

2026-04-20

Expected to finish

2026-12-31

Last updated by the study team

2026-04-15

Who can join

Age: 40 and older, up to 70. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Age between 40 and 70 years.
• Low back pain persisting for ≥ 12 weeks.
• Pain intensity: 30 ≤ VAS ≤ 70.
• Disability index: ODI ≥ 10%.
• Diagnosed with Lumbar Spondylosis by a physician, supported by clinical signs (mechanical pain) and imaging (X-ray or MRI showing degeneration).
• Diagnosed with Kidney Yin deficiency syndrome by a certified TCM physician, exhibiting symptoms such as: lower back/knee soreness, afternoon fever/hot flashes, night sweats, tinnitus, dry mouth, red tongue, or rapid/fine pulse.
• Voluntary consent to participate.

You may not qualify if…

• Contraindications to auricular acupressure (e.g., ear skin infection) or electroacupuncture (e.g., pregnancy, severe heart failure, surgical indications, pacemakers, metal implants).
• Specific causes of low back pain (e.g., infection, tumor, osteoporosis, ankylosing spondylitis, fracture).
• Disc herniation with surgical indications (e.g., muscle atrophy, severe limb weakness, or sphincter dysfunction).
• Currently participating in other interventional studies.
• Currently taking medications that may affect study outcomes (painkillers, muscle relaxants, antidepressants, TCM drugs).

Where it is running

• Department of Physical Therapy, Le Van Thinh Hospital, 130 Le Van Thinh Street — Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Trung Ward, Vietnam

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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