Avaliação da acupuntura no tratamento de dores lombares em gestantes

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2005

RESUMO

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of back pain during the gestational period. Method: A randomized clinical trial was conducted, in which 42 pregnant patients were selected. The age of the patients ranged between 18 years and older and pregnancy ranged from 28 to 35 weeks. All had back pain and scheduled their prenatal follow-up visits at the Municipal Health Care Center of Medical Specialties in Campo Largo (PR), from February to August, 2004. Pregnant patients were randomized for treatment with acupuncture or placebo. Three sessions were performed and a questionnaire was applied before and after each session to assess pain intensity, capacity to perform daily activities, use of analgesic drugs and discomfort caused by the treatment. The acupuncture group had two losses and the placebo group had three losses, neither of which interfered with the results. Statistical analysis included Student?s t-test for normal distributions, Mann-Whitney for asymmetric distributions and Wilcoxon?s test for paired samples, with a 5% significance level. Results: In both groups, there was a statistically significant decrease in back pain. In the acupuncture group, the decrease was more important (5.8 x 0.5) than in the control group (5.1 x 2.7). The acupuncture group showed a statistically significant improvement in the performance of daily activities (lifting weight, washing clothes, house cleaning, walking, shopping, long time sitting and sleeping) when compared to the placebo group. Women receiving acupuncture did not use analgesic medication. The same did not occur in the control group and this difference was statistically significant (p<0.005). No difference was observed between both groups in terms of discomfort caused by the treatment. Conclusions: In both groups, application of the technique did not cause discomfort or significant side-effects. Acupuncture was superior to placebo treatment for pain reduction in pregnant patients, improving the performance of daily activities and decreasing the use of analgesics

ASSUNTO(S)

acunpuncture gestantes acupuntura dor lombar backache

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

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