Evaluating acupuncture and standard care for pregnant women with back pain: the EASE Back pilot randomised controlled trial (ISRCTN49955124)

Annette Bishop, Reuben Ogollah, Bernadette Bartlam, P Barlas, Melanie A Holden, Khaled Ismail, Sue Jowett, Martyn Lewis, Alison Lloyd, Christine Kettle, Jesse Kigozi, Nadine E Foster, EASE Back study team

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Abstract

Background
Low back pain (LBP) and pelvic girdle pain (PGP) during pregnancy are common and often accepted as a ‘normal’ part of pregnancy. Many women receive little in the way of treatment, and yet pain interferes with sleep, daily activities and work and leads to increasing requests for induction of labour or elective caesarean section. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of a full RCT evaluating the benefit of acupuncture for pregnancy-related back pain.
Methods
Single-centre, three-arm pilot RCT in one large maternity unit and associated antenatal and physiotherapy clinics. Women were eligible if they had pregnancy-related LBP with or without PGP. Exclusions included a history of miscarriage, high risk of early labour or pre-eclampsia, PGP
only and previous acupuncture. Interventions were standard care (SC): A self-management booklet with physiotherapy if needed. SC+TA: The booklet and physiotherapy comprising true (penetrating) acupuncture, advice and exercise. SC+NPA: The booklet and physiotherapy comprising non-penetrating acupuncture, advice and exercise. Remote telephone randomisation
used a 1:1:1 allocation ratio stratified by gestational weeks. Three measures of pain/function were compared to inform the primary outcome measure in a full RCT: the Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire (PGQ), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and 11-point 0-10 numerical rating scale for pain. Analysis focused on process evaluation of recruitment, retention, descriptive information on outcomes, adherence to treatment, occurrence of adverse events and impact of physiotherapist training.
Results
125 women were randomised (45% of those eligible) between April and October 2013; 73% (n=91) provided 8-week follow-up data. Three of six recruitment methods accounted for 82% of total uptake: screening questionnaire at the 20-week scan, community midwives issuing study cards, and self-referral following local awareness initiatives. Physiotherapists’ self-confidence on managing
pregnancy-related LBP improved post training. The PGQ is suitable as the primary outcome in a full trial. The average number of treatment sessions in both SC+TA and SC+NPA was 6 (in line 3 with treatment protocols). No serious adverse events attributable to the trial treatments were reported.
Conclusion
A full RCT is feasible, would provide evidence about the effectiveness of acupuncture and inform treatment choices for women with pregnancy-related LBP.
Original languageEnglish
Article number72
JournalPilot and Feasibility Studies
Volume2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 12 Dec 2016

Keywords

  • acupuncture
  • pregnancy
  • low back pain
  • pelvic girdle pain
  • physiotherapy
  • RCT
  • pilot

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