Acupuncture May Ease Chronic Back Pain and Boost Function in Older Adults: Study Shows - Video

A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Internal Medicine reveals that older adults with chronic low back pain who received acupuncture experienced greater improvements in physical function and pain reduction compared to those who received only standard medical care. The findings offer encouraging evidence for a safe, non-addictive alternative to manage one of the most common and disabling conditions in aging populations.

The clinical trial, known as BackInAction, enrolled 800 participants aged 65 and older who had experienced low back pain for at least three months. All participants continued their usual medical care, but two-thirds were randomly assigned to receive acupuncture treatments—either 15 sessions over three months or those plus six additional maintenance sessions over the next three months.

Researchers assessed participants at three, six, and 12 months using self-reported disability scores based on their ability to perform everyday activities. They also collected data on pain intensity, physical function, anxiety, and depression. “Our clinical results suggest that acupuncture is working as well as many things that are more familiar to people. We found that the size of this effect, while modest, was positive and sustained,” said lead author Lynn L. DeBar, Ph.D., a distinguished investigator at Kaiser Permanente.

At both the six- and 12-month marks, participants who received acupuncture reported significantly lower disability and pain scores compared to those receiving only usual care. They also showed improvements in anxiety symptoms and physical function.

In conclusion, the BackInAction trial highlights acupuncture as a viable, low-risk treatment that could enhance pain management strategies for older adults. Researchers stress the importance of expanding Medicare coverage to improve access to this underutilized therapy.

Reference: “Acupuncture for Chronic Low Back Pain in Older Adults: A Randomized Pragmatic Clinical Trial” 2025. JAMA Network Open. DOI: 1E0.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.31348