Effectiveness of lumbar motion style acupuncture treatment on inpatients with acute low back pain: A pragmatic, randomized controlled trial

Acute low back pain caused by traffic accidents represents a significant health problem that affects millions of people around the world. Studies show that motor vehicle crashes are responsible for approximately 1.3 million deaths annually worldwide, with injuries to the lumbar and cervical regions accounting for more than half of all traffic-related injuries. During a collision, the biomechanical forces applied to the lumbar spine can damage intervertebral discs, joints, and muscles, resulting in persistent pain that, if not treated appropriately, can progress to a chronic condition. In South Korea, where this study was conducted, the problem is particularly relevant given the high traffic accident rates in the country.

This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy and safety of an innovative technique called motion acupuncture, or MSAT (Motion Style Acupuncture Treatment), in the treatment of patients with acute low back pain following traffic accidents. Unlike traditional acupuncture, in which the patient remains still after needle insertion, MSAT combines needle application with active or passive movement of the affected muscles during treatment. The researchers conducted a randomized controlled clinical trial with 96 inpatients at Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine, dividing them into two groups of 48 each. The experimental group received integrated Korean medicine treatment (including traditional acupuncture, herbal medicine, and manual therapy) combined with three sessions of MSAT, while the control group received only standard integrated treatment.

The study followed participants for 90 days, primarily evaluating pain intensity using a 0 to 10 numeric rating scale.

The results demonstrated that MSAT provided significantly superior pain relief compared with standard treatment. At study baseline, both groups showed similar pain levels, with a mean score of 6.7 on the numeric rating scale. After completing the three treatment sessions, which represented the primary objective of the study, the group that received MSAT showed pain reduction to 3.76 points, while the control group maintained higher levels of 5.32 points. The difference between groups was 1.56 points, considered clinically significant by the researchers.

In addition to pain reduction, the MSAT group showed notable improvements in lumbar spine range of motion in all directions tested, including flexion, extension, and rotation. Patients also reported greater overall satisfaction with treatment. During the three-month follow-up, although both groups showed progressive improvement, the MSAT group maintained its initial advantage, with 79.2% of patients showing significant improvement compared with 64.6% in the control group.

For patients who experience traffic accidents and develop acute low back pain, these results suggest that MSAT may be a valuable therapeutic option for accelerating recovery and preventing pain chronification. The treatment proved particularly effective for rapid pain relief during the first days of treatment, a critical period for preventing the condition from becoming chronic. For health care professionals, especially those working in integrative medicine or acupuncture, the study offers robust scientific evidence on a technique that combines the benefits of traditional acupuncture with movement therapy. The technique focuses on three main muscles related to low back pain: the iliopsoas, quadratus lumborum, and piriformis, allowing targeted treatment based on the patient's individual evaluation.

Side effects were minimal and included primarily mild dizziness, itching at the needle insertion site, and small hematomas, all of which resolved spontaneously without need for significant medical intervention.

It is important to acknowledge some limitations of the study that may influence the interpretation of the results. Because it is a pragmatic trial that seeks to reflect real clinical practice, it was not possible to keep patients and therapists blind to which treatment was being applied, which may have influenced responses. In addition, since MSAT was applied together with other Korean medicine treatments, it is not possible to determine exactly how much of the improvement was specifically due to the motion acupuncture technique. The control treatment used, based on traditional Korean medicine, may also not be considered a universal gold standard, limiting the generalizability of the results to other medical contexts.

Despite these limitations, this study represents the first rigorous clinical investigation of the efficacy of MSAT in specific muscles related to low back pain, providing important evidence on a promising therapeutic approach that combines ancestral acupuncture principles with modern concepts of rehabilitation through movement.