CompletedNot Applicable

Accessible Acupuncture for the Warrior With Acute Low Back Pain

United States276 participantsStarted 2020-08-25

Plain-language summary

The objective of this study is to determine if auricular acupuncture and/or the acupuncture point governor vessel 26 (GV26) with manual tonification is superior to conservative management (NSAIDs) at reducing acute low back pain (less than 4 weeks in duration).

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

\*\*Patients must be able to get care at Nellis Air Force Base (a military installation) in order to participate in this study\*\* Inclusion Criteria: * Male and Female Active Duty and DoD Beneficiaries aged 18 years or older. * Complaints of acute back pain (4 weeks or less in duration). Exclusion Criteria: * Known history of underlying rheumatologic condition. * Chronic low back pain (greater than 4 weeks in duration). * Contraindications to NSAID use (including peptic ulcer disease, underlying coagulopathy, severe coronary artery disease, underlying renal disease, allergy, thrombocytopenia). * Red flag symptoms of low back pain (to include bowel or bladder incontinence, sudden onset sensorineural deficits, loss of sensation in the perineal region). * Requiring narcotic use to control symptoms. * Patients currently taking opioid medications. * pregnant, may be pregnant, or attempting to become pregnant

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Change in Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS)

Timeframe: Pre-treatment: time 0 (week 1); post-treatment (week 2 followup)

Number of days missed from work due to lower back pain.

Timeframe: Post-treatment (Visit 2, 1 week followup)

Trial details

NCT IDNCT04236908

SponsorDavid Moss

Sponsor typeFED

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2025-12-09

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Acupuncture trials

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.