Electroacupuncture for the relief of suboptimally managed pain in ankylosing spondylitis: A single-arm pilot study.

In 30 seconds

This single-arm pilot study evaluated the feasibility of electroacupuncture (EA) for managing pain in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) inadequately controlled by analgesics. Among 20 participants, at least 10% achieved a 30% reduction in pain severity after 6 weeks of treatment (p = 0.002), indicating potential efficacy.

Key findings

• At least 10% of subjects achieved a 30% reduction in pain severity after 6 weeks of EA treatment (p = 0.002).
• The study involved 20 patients with moderate to severe AS pain despite usual care.
• Electroacupuncture was administered twice a week for 6-10 weeks.

Why it matters

Current treatments for ankylosing spondylitis often fail to adequately manage pain, leading to increased healthcare costs. This study suggests that electroacupuncture may offer a viable adjunctive therapy for pain relief in this population.