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Acupuncture for chronic low back pain: diagnosis and treatment patterns among acupuncturists evaluating the same patient. (Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO) Southern Med J. 2001;94:486–492.
Author(s) -
Kalauokalani Donna,
Sherman Karen J.,
Cherkin Daniel C.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
pain practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1533-2500
pISSN - 1530-7085
DOI - 10.1046/j.1533-2500.2001.1039_9.x
Subject(s) - medicine , acupuncture , medical diagnosis , alternative medicine , physical therapy , low back pain , back pain , chronic pain , traditional chinese medicine , manual therapy , family medicine , pathology
In this case study 7 office‐based acupuncturists practicing Traditional Chinese Medicine evaluated the same patient with chronic low back pain and provided data regarding principal assessment techniques, diagnoses, and therapeutic recommendations. A high diagnostic agreement existed among 5 of 7 acupuncturists. However, recommended treatments included varying numbers and locations of acupuncture points. Recommendations varied between 5 and 14 points requiring 7 to 26 needles, since many points were intended for bilateral application. Of 28 acupuncture points selected, only 4 (14%) were prescribed by 2 or more acupuncturists. Most recommended various forms of adjuvant heat. Conclude that 7 acupuncturists agreed considerably in the diagnoses for the same patient with chronic low back pain, but treatment recommendations varied substantially. Clinicians and researchers must recognize treatment recommendation variations and the challenges they present for study design interpretation.