The Role of Acupuncture in Pain Management

Abstract

Acupuncture has been used as a therapeutic modality for more than 3000 years, but it is only since the 1970s that a greater understanding of the underlying mechanisms of acupuncture analgesia (AA) has developed. This growth in understanding of AA has paralleled the scientific advances made in uncovering the physiology of pain perception. Similar to many ancient healing traditions, acupuncture has accumulated a wealth of anecdotal experiences documenting its clinical effectiveness for a variety of problems. Although acupuncture has survived the test of time, medicine today demands more, and ultimately acupuncture must withstand the scrutiny of science if it is to become a mainstay in the treatment of pain. Given the explosion of interest within the scientific and clinical medical community in acupuncture, it is fortunate that a substantial body of evidence to support the efficacy of acupuncture exists, in contrast to many other complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies. This article outlines understand- ing to date of the underlying physiologic mechanisms of AA, then reviews current use of acupuncture in pain management for some common musculoskeletal conditions seen in clinical practice. Philosophy