AUTHOR=Hong Yejin , Nam Dongwoo , Yang Changsop , Kang Byoung-Kab , Kim Ae-Ran , Shin Kyung Min , Kim Jihye , Jeon Saerom , Park Gwang-Cheon , Shin Jeong-Cheol , Kim Jae-Hong 

TITLE=Invasive laser acupuncture vs. electroacupuncture for non-specific chronic low back pain: protocol for a randomized clinical trial

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1659696

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2025.1659696

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=BackgroundThis study aims to evaluate the short-term efficacy of 650 nm invasive laser acupuncture (ILA) compared to conventional electroacupuncture (EA) in reducing pain in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP).MethodThis is a prospective, multicenter, randomized, single-blind, controlled trial. Ninety patients with NSCLBP will be recruited and randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either 650 nm ILA or EA. Treatments will be administered at the bilateral acupoints BL23, BL24, BL25, and GB30 for 10 min per session, twice weekly for 4 weeks (8 sessions in total). The primary outcome is the change in the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score 1 week after treatment completion. Secondary outcomes include VAS scores at interim and follow-up time points, Oswestry Disability Index, European Quality of Life Five Dimension Five-Level Scale, and the proportion of responders. Safety assessments and adverse event monitoring will be conducted throughout the trial.ConclusionThis multicenter randomized controlled trial compares the effects of ILA and EA with the change in VAS as a primary efficacy endpoint in 90 patients with NSCLBP. This findings will provide clinical evidence of the comparative efficacy and safety of 650 nm ILA versus EA in patients with NSCLBP, supporting its potential as a viable non-pharmacological treatment option.Clinical trial registrationhttps://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/detailSearch.do?search_lang=E&focus=reset_12&search_page=M&pageSize=10&page=undefined&seq=29960&status=5&seq_group=29960, identifier KCT0010475.