What the overview examined
A 2025 overview of Cochrane reviews examined non-drug, non-surgical treatments for adults with low back pain. The authors considered different comparators and reported short-term follow-up. This article focuses only on its findings about acupuncture for chronic low back pain.
Compared with sham acupuncture
At short-term follow-up, acupuncture probably produced a small improvement in function compared with sham acupuncture. The estimate combined three trials and 957 participants: standardized mean difference -0.38, 95% confidence interval -0.69 to -0.07. The authors rated certainty in this outcome as moderate.
Compared with no treatment
The overview separately reported comparisons with no treatment. These comparisons answer different questions: an improvement compared with no treatment cannot automatically be attributed to a needle-specific effect. Read the comparator, outcome and follow-up period together.
Safety and treatment choices
The overview rated certainty for the safety comparison between acupuncture and sham as low, which does not establish that there is no risk. Acupuncture can cause adverse events. Consider the condition, other treatment options and professional advice together; severe or persistent symptoms need timely assessment.
Sources
These links lead to original documents or official organizations.