Acupuncture Offers lasting Pain relief for older adults with chronic low back pain
Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is one of the most common and disabling conditions affecting older adults. For millions of seniors, it’s not just an occasional ache—it’s a daily struggle that limits mobility, reduces independence, and lowers quality of life.
While there is already an extensive body of research on the efficacy of acupuncture for chronic low back pain, until now there hasn't been research done exclusively on the benefit of acupuncture for chronic low back pain in the senior demographic (age 65 and up).
A new research study, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), addresses this gap in research and brings encouraging news: acupuncture—a time-tested, drug-free treatment—has now been shown to significantly reduce back pain and improve function in older adults. Check out the full research study here.
Not only does this study show that acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment option for seniors, it shows that acupuncture offers more pain relief and more improvements in physical function than standard medical care which includes prescription medication and physical therapy. Additionally, the participants in this study who were treated with acupuncture showed fewer anxiety symptoms than the participants who only received standard care.
What the Study Looked At: Clinical Research on Acupuncture for Chronic Low Back Pain in Seniors
In one of the largest randomized clinical trials of its kind, researchers set out to answer a critical question:
Can acupuncture help older adults with chronic low back pain—and are ongoing maintenance sessions more effective than a standard course alone?
The study enrolled 800 adults aged 65 and older from four U.S. health systems. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups:
Standard Acupuncture (SA): 8–15 acupuncture sessions over 12 weeks, in addition to usual care
Enhanced Acupuncture (EA): SA plus 4–6 maintenance acupuncture sessions over the next 12 weeks
Usual Medical Care (UMC): No acupuncture, just standard treatments
Researchers followed the participants for 12 months, tracking changes in pain, physical function, and quality of life.
What They Found
Acupuncture Treatment Significantly Reduces Back Pain in Older Adults
The results were clear—and exciting.
1. Acupuncture Reduces Back Pain and Disability
Both the Standard and Enhanced Acupuncture groups saw significant improvements in back pain-related disability compared to the usual care group. These improvements were measured using the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, a widely used tool for assessing physical limitations due to back pain. Participants in the study who received acupuncture treatments had a larger reduction in the severity of pain, a larger improvement in physical abilities, a reduction in symptoms of anxiety, and a larger improvement in quality of life.
2. Long-Term Relief with Acupuncture for Chronic Back Pain
The benefits of acupuncture weren’t short-lived. Improvements persisted at 12 months, showing that acupuncture offers lasting relief—not just a temporary fix.
3. Acupuncture Is Safe for Elderly Patients
This study also demonstrated that acupuncture is a safe treatment option for seniors.
Backed by Research: Acupuncture Is an Effective Pain Management Tool for Seniors
This new research adds to a growing body of evidence supporting acupuncture as a valuable tool for chronic pain management in older adults.
This study provides strong evidence that acupuncture is:
Effective for managing chronic low back pain
Safe and non-invasive
Drug-free
Sustainable over time
For older adults struggling with chronic low back pain, acupuncture provides a safe, accessible, and long-lasting solution.