THE SYNERGISTIC EFFECTS OF COMPREHENSIVE SPINAL ALIGNMENT EXERCISES AND AURICULAR THERAPY ON SUBACUTE LOW BACK PAIN: A PILOT STUDY

Abstract

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common ailments that causes a large group of the population to live with disability and decreased quality of life. Comprehensive spinal alignment exercise and auricular therapy, a newly developed exercise set, have independent supportive evidence, but their combined effect in subacute LBP has not been examined. Purpose: The objective of this pilot research was to determine the feasibility and possible impact of combining spinal alignment therapy and ear acupuncture compared to treatment by either method alone. Method:  A preliminary randomized control (3 groups) study was designed in which 45 patients (15 in each group) suffering from sub-acute episodes of non-specific low back pain were treated with Comprehensive Spinal Alignment Therapy (Group A), Auricular therapy (Group B), and both methods together (Group C). Pain intensity (NPRS) and disability status (ODI) were measured before and after the intervention. Results: All groups showed a statistically significant improvement after the intervention (p<0.001), with the combination group additionally doing better than either of the methods alone (p<0.01). Conclusion: Combining spinal alignment therapy and auricular therapy for the treatment of Sub Acute LBP pain is feasible, safe, and advantageous compared to either of the treatments.