Acupuncture for Chronic Low Back Pain in Older Adults:
A New Option Worth Considering?
Chronic low back pain is a leading cause of disability, especially among older adults. For many people aged 65 and up, persistent back pain interferes with daily life, reduces independence, and often leads to long-term reliance on medication or costly interventions. But could an ancient practice like acupuncture offer a safe, effective alternative?
A new study published in JAMA Network Open suggests that the answer is yes.
What Did the Study Investigate?
Researchers from four major U.S. health systems conducted a randomised clinical trial involving 800 older adults (average age 73.6) who had chronic low back pain.
Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups:
- Usual Medical Care Only
- Standard Acupuncture – 8 to 15 acupuncture sessions over 12 weeks
- Enhanced Acupuncture – the same as Standard Acupuncture, plus 4–6 additional “maintenance” sessions over the following 12 weeks
The goal? To measure whether acupuncture improved disability, pain, and overall well-being better than standard medical care alone — and whether continuing acupuncture beyond the initial course offered additional benefit.
What Did the Study Find?
Acupuncture Helped Reduce Disability and Pain
At both 6 and 12 months, participants in the acupuncture groups had greater improvements in back-related disability than those receiving usual care alone. The differences were modest but statistically significant.
Participants also reported reduced pain severity and greater satisfaction with their improvement when acupuncture was included in their care.
Why This Study Matters
Older adults are often underrepresented in clinical trials, and few studies have looked specifically at how acupuncture works for chronic back pain in this age group.
This trial fills that gap — and because it was designed to reflect “real-world” care across multiple health systems, the results are highly applicable to everyday clinical practice.
It also adds weight to the growing conversation around non-drug pain management, especially important as we grapple with the long-term risks of opioid use, overprescription, and surgical interventions.
- Acupuncture is a valid, evidence-based option to consider — particularly if medications aren’t working or aren’t well tolerated.
- A short course (8–15 sessions) appears effective
- It’s safe and well-tolerated, with a very low risk of side effects.
- The improvements are modest, but meaningful — especially when combined with other supportive care like exercise, yoga, or chiropractic care.
If you would like to book in with Dr Elena for acupuncture or chiropractic or both you can book online or call us. If you would like to discuss the benefits of acupuncture or chiropractic for chronic lower back pain with Dr Elena please contact us on (03) 9846 8382 .
Sources:
JAMA Network Open (October 2025): Acupuncture for Chronic Low Back Pain in Older Adults – A Randomized Clinical Trial