Yoga and acupuncture are effective for chronic pain management highlights review of the evidence

Yoga, tai chi and acupuncture appear to be effective tools for helping to manage some chronic pain conditions, says a review of US trials published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

People in chronic pain often turn to complementary health approaches in addition to mainstream medicine, yet there is a lack of guidance in this area.

Now a new review gives healthcare professionals tools to inform their decision-making on how to manage pain.

Researchers reviewed 105 trials that focused on seven approaches used for one or more of five painful conditions: back pain, osteoarthritis, neck pain, fibromyalgia and severe headaches and migraine. They found promising results in the following areas:

• Acupuncture and yoga for back pain;
• Acupuncture and tai chi for osteoarthritis of the knee;
• Massage therapy for neck pain with adequate doses and for short-term benefit;
• Relaxation techniques for severe headaches and migraine;
• Massage therapy, spinal manipulation, and osteopathic manipulation may provide some help for back pain, and relaxation approaches and tai chi might help people with fibromyalgia (although the evidence in these areas was weaker).

“These data can equip providers and patients with the information they need to have informed conversations regarding non-drug approaches for treatment of specific pain conditions,” explains Dr David Shurtleff, who is involved in the work. “It’s important that continued research explore how these approaches actually work and whether these findings apply broadly in diverse clinical settings and patient populations.”

Click here to read the original research.

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