Electro-Acupuncture Treatment of Patients With Chronic Low-Back Pain - Paper Example

What was the research question? What are the effects of a series of electro-acupuncture treatment in conjunction with exercise on pain, disability and functional improvement scores of patients with chronic low-back pain(LBP)

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What were the independent variables?

What was the dependent variable? Independent variables were electro-acupuncture treatment.

Dependent variables were exercise on the pain, disability and functional improvement of patients.

What was the sample size and how was it chosen? Sample size was a total of 52 patients, they were chosen randomly

What was the experimental design and use of control group? Experimental design was randomized controlled study, 52 patients were allocated to an exercise group (n=2) or an exercise plus EA group (n=26) and are treated for 12 sessions.

Were the instruments of measurement shown to be reliable and valid? Instruments used for measurement were reliable and produced valid results.

What data types were included? Data used were chronic LBP, age between 18-75years of all gender, structural deformity, Tumors, lower limb fracture, spinal infection, pregnancy, spinal cord compression and other orthopedic or medical problems that hinder back exercise.

Describe the statistics used, what they were used for, and the results. Statistic method used were x square test and t test to compare demographic characteristics and other variables of the two groups at baseline. Mean was used as index of localization, and standard deviations as index dispersion. Results were changes in NRS, Aberdeen LBP scale, spinal angular ROM in flexionextension and reciprocal isokinetic trunk concentric flexor and extensor strength for the two groups immediately after the treatment. Differences in the response over time. Analysis was performed using SPSS for windows statistical software.

What were the researchers conclusions? How did they answer the research question(s)? The researcher concluded that electro-acupuncture has an additional value to standard back exercise, and may be an effective option in the treatment of pain and disability associated with chronic LBP. The researcher answered the research question that EA treatment has an effect on pain, disability and LBP.

How was error controlled? The error was controlled by three months follow up and the long term left. The interaction between the acupuncturists was minimized to exclude potential bias.

Did you see any concerns with the research study? If so, what? Yes, Well-designed clinical trials should be applied for accurate findings.

Yeung analysis

As depicted in the article, the researchers were trying to answer the question about the "effect of a series electro-acupuncture (EA) treatment in conjunction with exercise on the pain, disability, and functional improvement scores of patients suffering from chronic low-back pain (LBP)" (Yeung, 2009). The low back pain had become a major economic problem in western countries. About 31 million of individuals in the United States were experiencing low back pain. Other studies stated that the United States had up to 70% cases.

The randomized controlled study was used. Fifty-two patients were allocated randomly to an exercise group (n=26) or an exercise plus electro-puncture group (n=26) and treated for twelve sessions (Yeung, 2009). Various tools were used in the study to measure the outcome, for example, numerical rating scale, Aberdeen LBP scale, the Lumbar spinal active range of movement and isokinetic strength assessed by a blinded observer.

A t-test was an effective method for measuring the outcome of the two groups before and after the treatment. The independent variables were electro-acupuncture treatment, and dependent variables were an exercise on the pain, disability and functional improvement of patients with chronic low-back pain (LBP). Statistical analysis was done based on the need to treat principle (Cecilia et al., 2003). Patients who were dropping out for other reasons not connected to treatment in which they were assigned, provided with registration scores for the missing time points. Patients were dropping out due to treatment to which they were assigned randomly and given the worst record.

The hypothesis was the effect of electro-acupuncture treatment on low back pain. To determine the robustness of conclusion the analysis were repeated when missing data get discarded. The initial analysis (intention to treat) may make it harder to find the differences while following report (dropped missing data) may make it easier to find significant differences (Cecilia et al., 2003). Comparison of the demographic features and other variables were using x square test, and t test whether the variables to be considered were categorical or continuous respectively. The level of significance was the set at p=0.05 in all comparisons after the treatment.

The numerical rating scale was a tool used to measure the average and the worst pain intensity during the last week on assessment, by asking patients to rate his or her perceived level of pain intensity (Cecilia et al., 2003). The numerical of the pain started from 0 to 10, with 0 representing one extreme (no pain) and 10 representing another extreme as it could be, despite its high reliability in both literate and illiterate patients, the findings may not be accurate due to a patient health condition.

Patients may give wrong results depending on the attitude of the person asking him or her to rate their pain intensity (Cecilia et al., 2003). Pain is not a measurable factor through questions; it should be measured using tools which will give accurate results like isokinetic. Language product is a barrier between the person asking questions and the patient, hence give false results. This method may take a longer time. There is n. thing which will confirm that the patient has given accurate data.

References

Cecilia K.N. Yeung, M.Sc., 1, 2 MASON C.P. Leung, Ph.D., 1and Daniel H.K. Chow, Ph.D.3 (2003). The Use of Electro-Acupuncture in Conjunction with Exercise for the Treatment of Chronic Low-Back Pain. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 9(4), 479-490.

Yeung, D. (2009). An Explicit Density Function for a Generalized Stochastic Food Chain of the LotkaVolterraYeung Type. Stochastic Analysis and Applications, 27(1), 16-23. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07362990802558287