• Erica Godley and Michael A Smith.
• Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA; University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, 428 Church St, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
• Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2020 May 1; 39: 101146.

ObjectiveEstablish the utility of acupressure for chronic low back pain (CLBP).DesignA systematic review of English articles using PubMed and Embase was conducted from 01/2004-01/2020. Search terms included: "acupressure" and "chronic pain" or "low back pain". Articles included were randomized control trials evaluating acupressure in adult patients with CLBP.Results150 studies met initial criteria; 6 were included (n = 468). The average total treatment length was 4 weeks. The main treatment outcomes were changes in pain, disability, and sleep. All studies found a clinically significant reduction (, ≥30% decrease) in pain for the treatment groups. All studies found a clinically significant and/or statistically significant improvement in disability in at least one of the treatment groups. All studies found a statistically significant improvement in sleep. No study found significant adverse events.ConclusionAcupressure is a feasible, effective, safe, low cost nonpharmacologic method to treat CLBP.Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

16 keywords...

hide…