Self-Administered Acupressure Improves Chronic Low Back Pain

A study from the University of Michigan examined effects of self-administered acupressure on fatigue, pain, sleep, and reported disability.

A randomized pilot trial was conducted (N = 67); participants were randomized into six weeks of relaxing acupressure, stimulating acupressure, or usual care.

Relaxing acupressure was supposed to reduce insomnia while stimulating acupressure was thought to reduce fatigue. Participants were trained to perform acupressure on certain points of the body. The acupressure group performed self-acupressure around 30 minutes daily, over six weeks.

Analysis of the data showed positive improvement in pain in acupressure groups compared with usual care. Pain was reduced by 35–36% in the acupressure groups. Participants who performed stimulating acupressure experienced better pain and fatigue improvement compared to usual care. Improvement in fatigue was also found in stimulating acupressure compared with usual care. There is minimal adverse effect.

The authors commented that although this was a small study, acupressure demonstrated promising preliminary support of efficacy for pain and fatigue reduction.