Overview

• The BackInAction randomized trial enrolled 800 people aged 65 and older and compared usual care with or without up to 15 acupuncture sessions, with a subgroup receiving maintenance visits.
• At six months, acupuncture recipients improved by about 1.0 to 1.5 points more on a 24-point disability scale than those on usual care, with additional gains in pain and function.
• Nearly half of patients receiving acupuncture achieved at least a 30% symptom improvement versus roughly 30% in the usual-care group.
• Benefits persisted at 12 months, while added maintenance sessions produced little extra improvement in disability outcomes.
• Safety was favorable with rare serious adverse events, only one possibly linked infection, and minor transient soreness in fewer than one in ten patients.