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    musculoskeletal

    Chronic lower back pain (adjunctive care)

    Also known as: chronic low back pain, lower back pain, lumbago, persistent back pain, non-specific low back pain

    Most chronic lower back pain is non-specific — no single structural cause is found — and best managed with staying active, exercise and addressing fear and stress around pain. Acupuncture has evidence as an adjunct for chronic low back pain; Chinese medicine pattern differentiation guides point and formula selection alongside physical rehabilitation.

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    Lifestyle & Diet

    • •Stay active — bed rest and avoidance prolong pain.
    • •A graded walking or strength program has the best evidence of any treatment.
    • •Address sleep, stress and low mood; they amplify pain.
    • •Most imaging findings (disc bulges, degeneration) are normal with age and don't explain pain on their own.

    Cautions & Contraindications

    See sources
    • •Red flags (cauda equina, fracture, infection, malignancy) must be excluded before pattern treatment.[,]
    • •Do not needle directly over sites of suspected infection or unexplained masses.[]
    • •SP6 and Blood-moving formulas are contraindicated in pregnancy.[]

    When to reassess or seek care again

    See sources

    Track pain (0–10), function (walking tolerance, sit-to-stand, work capacity) and fear beliefs every 4 weeks. Escalate to the GP if function is declining or red flags emerge.

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    Sources & Further Reading

    Clinical guidance, red flags and safety notes on this page draw on the following current sources alongside the classical references above.

    1. Back pain — Healthdirect
      Healthdirect Australia · 2024
    2. Low back pain — management in general practice
      Australian Family Physician (RACGP) · 2022
    3. Vickers et al. — Acupuncture for chronic pain: individual patient data meta-analysis
      JAMA Internal Medicine · 2012
    4. NICE guideline NG59 — Low back pain and sciatica
      NICE · 2020
    5. Chinese medicine practitioner safety standards
      AHPRA / Chinese Medicine Board of Australia · 2024

    Educational reference for licensed practitioners. Not a substitute for individual clinical assessment. Refer to conventional care for any red-flag or undiagnosed presentation.