Progress of research on acupuncture treatment of nonspecific low back pain

Nonspecific low back pain (NLBP) is a heterogeneous disease with no definite pathological anatomical causes. Although acupuncture treatment of NLBP has been included in the international clinical guidelines for low back pain in many countries, the grade strength is still low, and the Results of clinical efficacy evaluation are controversial. Moderate evidence from international studies indicates that acupuncture treatment of NLBP has a clear short-term analgesic effect and can improve pain related depression symptoms to a certain extent, but the exploration of efficacy rules is relatively insufficient, and there is no specific operational scheme to guide the acupuncture treatment of NLBP. Domestic clinical studies are quite distinctive in the aspects of dose-effect acupoint selection, characteristic needling Methods, and acupuncture apparatuses, but lack of systematic research, and have low quality and weak evidence. In terms of the underlying mechanisms, acupuncture may achieve analgesic effect through anti-inflammation, relieving central sensitization, and improving the damage of local multifidus muscles and bones. However, due to the heterogeneity of NLBP disease, the current elaboration on the mechanism of acupuncture treatment of NLBP may not reach a consensus, and it is still worth further exploration.