Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable

Efficacy of Electroacupuncture Combined With Auricular Acupressure for Chronic Low Back Pain.

Vietnam76 participantsStarted 2026-04-20

Plain-language summary

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) due to lumbar spondylosis is a leading cause of disability, significantly impacting the quality of life in middle-aged and elderly populations. While electroacupuncture (EA) and auricular acupressure (AA) are recognized as safe, non-pharmacological therapies, high-quality clinical evidence specifically evaluating their combined effects on CLBP patients with TCM "Kidney Yin deficiency" syndrome remains limited.This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combining EA with AA (utilizing Vaccaria segetalis seeds) compared to EA combined with sham AA. The study will focus on 76 eligible patients at Le Van Thinh Hospital. Primary objectives are to measure changes in pain intensity (VAS) and functional improvement (ODI) at three intervals: baseline (T0), after 7 days (T1), and upon completion of the 14-day intervention (T2). The findings are expected to provide an evidence-based foundation for an integrated treatment approach to manage chronic lumbar pain effectively.

Who can participate

Age range

40 Years – 70 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.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age between 40 and 70 years. * Low back pain persisting for ≥ 12 weeks. * Pain intensity: 30 ≤ VAS ≤ 70. * Disability index: ODI ≥ 10%. * Diagnosed with Lumbar Spondylosis by a physician, supported by clinical signs (mechanical pain) and imaging (X-ray or MRI showing degeneration). * Diagnosed with Kidney Yin deficiency syndrome by a certified TCM physician, exhibiting symptoms such as: lower back/knee soreness, afternoon fever/hot flashes, night sweats, tinnitus, dry mouth, red tongue, or rapid/fine pulse. * Voluntary consent to participate. Exclusion Criteria: * Contraindications to auricular acupressure (e.g., ear skin infection) or electroacupuncture (e.g., pregnancy, severe heart failure, surgical indications, pacemakers, metal implants). * Specific causes of low back pain (e.g., infection, tumor, osteoporosis, ankylosing spondylitis, fracture). * Disc herniation with surgical indications (e.g., muscle atrophy, severe limb weakness, or sphincter dysfunction). * Currently participating in other interventional studies. * Currently taking medications that may affect study outcomes (painkillers, muscle relaxants, antidepressants, TCM drugs).

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.

1This trial uses electroacupuncture combined with auricular acupressure — two techniques together — so would my specific diagnosis of chronic low back pain or lumbar spondylosis make me a good or poor candidate for this kind of combined approach?
2The trial isn't recruiting yet, which means there's no confirmed start date — given how long I've been dealing with this pain, should I be pursuing standard treatments now rather than waiting for this study to open?
3The main thing being measured is a pain score called the Visual Analog Scale — does that mean the trial is primarily focused on reducing pain intensity, and would that address the aspects of my condition that bother me most, like mobility or daily function?
4Since this trial is listed as Phase NA, which often applies to non-drug interventions, what do we already know about the safety and effectiveness of electroacupuncture and auricular acupressure for chronic low back pain, and how does that compare to treatments I might try right now?
5If I were eventually interested in this trial, what are the practical demands — like how often I'd need to come in for sessions — and would that realistically fit my schedule and situation?'}

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

The change of the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Score

Timeframe: Assessments are conducted before intervention and after each intervention week: Baseline (T0), Day 7 (T1), and Day 14 (T2).

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07530042

SponsorUniversity of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-08-31

Contact for this trial

Nguyen Thi Huong Xuan, MD.

+84388916499 nthxuan.ths.yhct25@ump.edu.vn

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP) trials