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- Acupuncture Relieves Chronic Low Back Pain in Older Adults
Acupuncture Relieves Chronic Low Back Pain in Older Adults
NIH NEWS IN HEALTH
NIH News in Health · Source article
Health Capsule
More than 1 out of 3 older adults in the U.S. have chronic low back pain. Pain is considered chronic when it lasts more than three months. Some find relief with pain medications or physical therapy. But others need more options. A new study looked at how much acupuncture might help older adults with chronic back pain.
Acupuncture uses thin metal needles to stimulate specific points on the body. Studies have shown it can help with different types of pain.
Researchers enrolled 800 adults ages 65 or older with chronic low back pain. Participants were divided into three groups. Each received treatment for 12 weeks. One group had access to standard medical care alone. This included options for medicine and physical therapy. Another group had access to standard care plus eight to 15 sessions of acupuncture. The last group received standard care options plus enhanced acupuncture—with an additional four to six sessions of acupuncture.
The two groups who received acupuncture had less back pain than those offered standard care alone. The acupuncture groups also reported improved physical function after six months. After 12 months, they had less disability from pain and fewer anxiety symptoms.
Nondrug pain relief options could be especially helpful for older adults who already take several medications. “Acupuncture offers a less invasive option that has a better safety profile than a lot of the common treatments for back pain in older adults,” says Dr. Lynn DeBar of Kaiser Permanente.
Further reading and research references
- Complementary Health Approaches for Pain Relief
- Managing Pain: Moving Beyond Opioids
- Pain
- Back Pain
- Chronic Pain and Complementary Health Approaches
- Acupuncture: Effectiveness and Safety
- Acupuncture for chronic low back pain in older adults: A randomized clinical trial.
Illustrative archival photograph: National Cancer Institute / Unsplash, used under the Unsplash License. The people or equipment shown are not identified as participants in the research or interviews described here.
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Her research focuses on meaning-centered grief therapy for parents who have lost a child. “We help people recognize and shift the meanings they are making about their grief, their loss, and themselves, while also strengthening their sense of meaning in life by connecting them with things that matter most to them.” In early findings, parents who went through the therapy reported a stronger sense of meaning in life and sense of connection to the child they lost. Lichtenthal says, “It’s not about moving on, but about learning to coexist with grief while finding ways to stay connected to the person who died and engaged in life.” The Body’s Response Grief doesn’t just affect your emotions. It can take a toll on your body. Physical symptoms can include headaches, loss of appetite, fatigue, dizziness, and trouble sleeping. Older adults who lose a spouse face unique challenges. They may be dealing with changes in their own health challenges and are more likely to feel socially isolated, which can make grieving harder. Stahl’s study helped older grieving adults rebuild regular routines around sleep, meals, and physical activity. These three healthy habits are often disrupted after a loved one dies. The online program provided daily digital check-ins and health coaching. Even without in-person contact, participants showed real improvements in their depression and anxiety symptoms. “Focusing on simple, healthy routines is very empowering,” Stahl says. “It helps people work through their grief by taking care of themselves.” Sleep plays an important role in healing. It supports brain health and helps people process emotions and memories. Stahl’s research suggests that rebuilding healthy sleep habits may be one of the most important things a grieving person can do for their health and well-being. Feeling Stuck Most people adapt to loss over time. 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Sometimes a walk, a regular routine, or quiet time is what you need. Try different things, notice what helps. If it’s not, be willing to try something else. When supporting someone who is grieving, let them know you are there for them. Keep checking in. Respectfully acknowledge their loss and show empathy. Use phrases like, “I know I can’t fully understand what you’re going through, but I’m here for you.” Avoid phrases that minimize the loss, like “Everything happens for a reason.” It can be especially helpful to offer support like bringing meals, helping with errands, remembering important dates, or continuing to reach out over time, not just after the initial loss. Prigerson’s current work focuses on social connection to help with grief. It uses an online tool to match people who are grieving with others who share similar experiences. “Sometimes the most powerful support comes from someone who has walked the same path,” Prigerson says. Not everyone needs professional counseling for grief. Many people find their way through with the support of family, friends, faith, or other sources of connection. But if you’re feeling “stuck” after a significant loss, or if your grief is making daily life difficult, talk with your doctor or a licensed counselor who specializes in grief. Source: NIH News in Health. Originally published July 2026. Republished by Graymedy on 11 October 2026. This is a sourced NIH article, not a Graymedy interview or original study. Read the original article and its research references. NIH News in Health permits republication of its articles and illustrations with acknowledgement. Research findings retain their original study context. Further reading and research references Build Social Bonds to Protect Health: The Power of Personal Connections Grief, Bereavement, and Coping with Loss Coping with Grief and Loss Loneliness and Social Isolation: Tips for Staying Connected Coping With Traumatic Events End of Life Topics Grief (CDC) A micro-sociological approach to prolonged grief disorder: Identification and measurement of simpatico, a novel interpersonal risk factor. Enhancing & Mobilizing the POtential for Wellness & Emotional Resilience (EMPOWER) among surrogate decision-makers of ICU patients: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Incorporating technology in research with older bereaved adults: Lessons learned from conducting an internet-based randomized controlled trial. Interventions for bereavement: What works, what does not, and what might. Meaning-centered psychotherapy for cancer caregivers study protocol of a randomized controlled trial. State of the science: Psychotherapeutic interventions for prolonged grief disorder. Illustrative archival photograph: National Cancer Institute / Unsplash, used under the Unsplash License. The people or equipment shown are not identified as participants in the research or interviews described here.
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Acupuncture Relieves Chronic Low Back Pain in Older Adults
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Some headaches may indicate a dangerous medical problem that needs immediate medical attention. See the Wise Choices box for signs to look for. Trying Treatments You can help take control of your headaches by keeping a headache diary. Track your symptoms, how often they happen, and what alleviates them. “For at least a month, just note down when you have a headache, how you treated it, how long it lasted,” Oshinsky says. You can also include facts like foods or drinks consumed, sleep patterns, stress levels, and changes in daily routines. This can help you identify what might have triggered the headaches so you can work to avoid them. Sharing your diary with your doctor can help them better understand the type of headaches you’re having and suggest a treatment plan. Over-the-counter pain relievers can help some people with occasional headache pain. Others may need to try prescription drugs. But frequently taking painkillers for headaches may make things worse, Oshinsky explains. “If you use painkillers more than three or four times a week, once the drug is out of your system you can get a rebound headache,” he says. People with frequent or chronic headaches can try preventive treatments. These stop headaches from starting, rather than dulling the pain once they start. For example, a type of medication called CGRP drugs helps many people with migraine have fewer attacks. But the available preventive treatments don’t work for everyone. Researchers are looking for other ways to stop headaches from forming. Brennan’s team is studying a compound called glutamate. Glutamate is important for normal brain function and helps nerve cells communicate. But Brennan’s team has found that it may sometimes also play a role in triggering migraines. “We need to figure out how this unusual glutamate activity works, in what brain cell type, and under what conditions, in order to develop a more tailored approach to migraine treatment,” he says. Other treatments for headaches don’t involve drugs at all. Some people get relief with a type of talk therapy called cognitive-behavioral therapy, or CBT. This includes learning coping strategies and ways to think differently about pain. “There are changes in the brain after doing CBT, just like there are changes in the brain after using medications,” says Dr. Hadas Nahman-Averbuch, who studies migraine pain at Washington University in St. Louis. Other people find relief using mind-body techniques such as mindfulness practice or biofeedback, she adds. Small Heads, Big Aches Headaches are common in kids, too. 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Further reading and research references Q&A: Dr. K.C. Brennan on Understanding and Treating Migraine Mindfulness for Your Health: The Benefits of Living Moment by Moment Good Sleep for Good Health: Get the Rest You Need Feeling Stressed? Ways to Improve Your Well-Being Caring for Concussions: More Than a Bump on the Head Headache Headaches: What You Need to Know Migraine Neurological Diagnostic Tests and Procedures NIH Pain Consortium Non-canonical glutamate signaling in a genetic model of migraine with aura. Alterations in brain function after cognitive behavioral therapy for migraine in children and adolescents. Androgen levels and experimental pain sensitivity in healthy young adolescent girls. Illustrative archival photograph: National Cancer Institute / Unsplash, used under the Unsplash License. The people or equipment shown are not identified as participants in the research or interviews described here.
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