Acupuncture for Back Pain: What the Research Says & What to Expect

Feb 16

The American College of Physicians recommends acupuncture as a first-line treatment for both acute and chronic low back pain, placing it ahead of medications like NSAIDs and muscle relaxants in their clinical guidelines.

A 2025 NIH-funded clinical trial of 800 participants published in JAMA Network Open confirmed that acupuncture significantly reduced pain-related disability and improved physical function, with benefits lasting up to 12 months after treatment.

At West End Acupuncture in Portland, Maine, back pain is the most common reason patients walk through our door, and the results we see every week in practice are consistent with what the research shows.

Bottom line: Acupuncture is one of the most well-researched non-drug treatments for back pain, and it works.

How Acupuncture Treats Back Pain

Acupuncture works on back pain through several well-documented mechanisms. When a needle is inserted into a specific point, it stimulates nerve pathways that trigger the release of endorphins and enkephalins, your body's own natural painkillers.

Here's what happens in your body during an acupuncture treatment for back pain:

Pain signal modulation. Acupuncture activates nerve fibers that interrupt pain signaling in the spinal cord and brain, reducing how intensely you perceive pain.
Endorphin and enkephalin release. Needling stimulates the release of natural opioid-like compounds that reduce pain without medication.
Local blood flow and tissue repair. Needle insertion increases circulation to the treated area, delivering oxygen and nutrients that promote healing of damaged or inflamed tissues.
Muscle tension release. Acupuncture and dry needling release myofascial trigger points, tight knots in muscles that generate pain.
Nervous system regulation. Acupuncture calms the sympathetic nervous system (your fight-or-flight response), which often amplifies chronic pain.
Anti-inflammatory response. Acupuncture has been shown to reduce local and systemic inflammation, a key driver of chronic back pain.

At our clinic, we combine traditional acupuncture with techniques like dry needling, electro-acupuncture, and cupping to address back pain from multiple angles. Each treatment plan is personalized based on whether your pain is muscular, structural, nerve-related, or a combination.

What Types of Back Pain Does Acupuncture Help?

Acupuncture is effective for a wide range of back pain conditions, including:

Chronic lower back pain: the most-studied condition in acupuncture research, with the strongest evidence base
Acute back pain:sudden onset from lifting, twisting, or sleeping wrong
Sciatica: pain, numbness, or tingling radiating down the leg from a compressed nerve
Herniated or bulging discs: acupuncture can reduce surrounding inflammation and muscle guarding
Degenerative disc disease: managing pain and maintaining mobility as discs wear over time
SI joint dysfunction: pain at the base of the spine where it meets the pelvis
Muscle spasms and myofascial pain: tight, knotted muscles in the back, glutes, and hips
Post-surgical back pain: helping patients recover after spinal procedures when pain persists
Scoliosis-related pain: managing the muscular imbalances and discomfort caused by spinal curvature
Stress-related back tension: the kind that builds from sitting at a desk, clenching your jaw, or carrying emotional stress in your body

If you're unsure whether your specific type of back pain would respond to acupuncture, we're happy to talk it through. Call us at (207) 376-0264 or book an Appointment online.

How Many Acupuncture Sessions Do You Need for Back Pain?

The number of sessions depends on how long you've had back pain and how severe it is:

Acute (recent injury, less than 4 weeks) 1–3 sessions Many patients feel significant relief after the first or second treatment
Moderate (4–12 weeks, recurring) 4–8 sessions Gradual, cumulative improvement in pain and mobility
Chronic (more than 3 months) 8–12 sessions Initial relief often within 3–6 sessions; lasting changes develop over a full course of treatment

These aren't rigid numbers, they're what we typically see in practice. Some patients with acute back pain feel substantially better after a single session. Chronic pain that's been present for years may need consistent treatment over several months. We reassess progress regularly and adjust the treatment plan as your body responds.

Most patients come in once or twice per week during the active treatment phase, then transition to less frequent maintenance visits once they're feeling significantly better.

What the Research Says: Key Studies on Acupuncture for Back Pain

The evidence for acupuncture and back pain is among the strongest in the entire acupuncture research literature. Here are the findings that matter most:

American College of Physicians (2017 Clinical Practice Guideline): The ACP issued a strong recommendation that physicians should prescribe acupuncture as a first-line, non-drug treatment for both acute/subacute and chronic low back pain before considering medications. This guideline, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, is the standard of practice for internal medicine physicians in the United States.

NIH-funded BackInAction Trial (2025, JAMA Network Open): This large-scale randomized clinical trial of 800 adults with chronic low back pain found that acupuncture significantly improved pain-related disability, physical function, and anxiety symptoms compared to usual medical care alone. Benefits were sustained for up to 12 months, even after treatment ended. The lead researcher noted that acupuncture performed as well as many more commonly prescribed interventions.

Network Meta-Analysis of 63 Randomized Controlled Trials (2025): A comprehensive analysis of 9,454 participants found that individualized acupuncture significantly reduced pain intensity beyond the threshold for clinical significance. The study concluded that acupuncture combined with complementary approaches like exercise produced superior outcomes compared to single-modality treatments.

Cochrane-style Review (2020): An analysis of 33 studies with 8,270 participants found moderate-certainty evidence that acupuncture produced clinically meaningful pain relief and improved function for chronic low back pain, particularly compared to no treatment or usual care.

Acupuncture vs. Other Back Pain Treatments

Many of our patients come to us after trying other approaches or while continuing them. Here's how acupuncture compares:

Acupuncture vs. medication: The American College of Physicians recommends trying acupuncture before NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, or opioids. Acupuncture has no risk of dependency, no gastrointestinal side effects, and addresses the underlying dysfunction rather than masking symptoms.

Acupuncture vs. physical therapy: These work well together. Physical therapy builds strength and corrects movement patterns; acupuncture reduces pain, releases muscle tension, and regulates the nervous system. We regularly coordinate care with physical therapists in the Portland area.

Acupuncture vs. massage: Massage is excellent for muscle tension but doesn't directly affect nerve pathways or trigger points the way acupuncture and dry needling do. Many patients benefit from both.

Acupuncture vs. chiropractic: Chiropractic focuses on spinal alignment; acupuncture targets the nervous system, muscular system, and inflammatory response. They address different aspects of back pain and are often complementary.

Acupuncture vs. steroid injections: Injections can provide temporary relief for severe inflammation but come with limits on frequency and potential side effects. Acupuncture offers a sustainable, repeatable approach without those concerns.

If you’re interested in trying acupuncture and dry needling, we're happy to talk it through. Call us at (207) 376-0264 or book an Appointment online.

Does Acupuncture Hurt?

This is the most common question we hear, and the honest answer is that most patients find acupuncture remarkably comfortable. Acupuncture needles are about the width of a human hair, nothing like the hypodermic needles used for injections or blood draws.

Most people feel a brief, mild sensation when the needle is inserted, a dull ache, a feeling of warmth, or a slight tingling. Many of our patients fall asleep during treatment. If you're nervous about needles, you're not alone, and you'll likely be surprised by how different this is from what you're imagining.

Why Choose a Licensed Acupuncturist for Back Pain

If you're considering acupuncture for back pain, it matters who does it. Licensed acupuncturists complete a master's-level program with thousands of hours of clinical training in needling techniques, anatomy, and point selection. This is fundamentally different from a physical therapist or chiropractor who performs dry needling after a weekend certification course.

At West End Acupuncture, both practitioners graduated from Tri-State College of Acupuncture in Manhattan, one of the leading acupuncture programs in the country. Zach Haigney received additional Sports Medicine Acupuncture Training, a year-long advanced training program focused on orthopedic assessment and musculoskeletal treatment, and spent five years practicing at an integrative medicine clinic in New York City, collaborating daily with MDs, physical therapists, and orthopedic specialists.

We're comfortable communicating with your existing providers, whether that's your primary care physician, orthopedist, or physical therapist. If coordinated care is important to you, that's something we do well.

Acupuncture for Back Pain in Portland, Maine

West End Acupuncture is located at 231 York Street in Portland's West End neighborhood, near West End Park. We treat patients from Portland, South Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Westbrook, Falmouth, and surrounding communities in Greater Portland.

Appointment details:

Acupuncture sessions are $150-125 and last approximately 60 minutes
Hours: Monday–Thursday 8am–6pm, Friday 8am–4pm
Phone: (207) 376-0264
Email: hello@west-end-acupuncture.com
Book online at westendacupuncture.janeapp.com

If you've been dealing with back pain and wondering whether acupuncture is worth trying, the research says yes, and so does our clinical experience. Book a session and find out what your back feels like when your nervous system gets the support it needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is acupuncture covered by insurance for back pain in Maine?

Many private insurance plans in Maine now cover acupuncture for back pain. Medicare covers acupuncture specifically for chronic low back pain. We provide superbills that you can submit to your insurance for reimbursement, and HSA/FSA accounts can be used to pay for treatment. Call your insurance provider to verify your specific coverage, or contact us and we can help you figure it out.

How quickly does acupuncture work for back pain?

Many patients notice improvement after the first session, especially for acute injuries. For chronic back pain, initial improvements are often felt within 3–6 sessions. The 2025 BackInAction trial showed that benefits can last up to 12 months after a course of treatment.

Can acupuncture make back pain worse?

Temporary soreness at needle sites is possible and it typically resolves within 24 hours. Occasionally, patients experience a brief increase in symptoms before improvement, this is a normal part of the healing response and usually indicates the treatment is engaging the right areas. Serious adverse effects from acupuncture are extremely rare.

Should I try acupuncture or physical therapy for back pain?

Both are excellent options, and they work well together. The American College of Physicians recommends both as first-line treatments for back pain. Many of our patients do acupuncture and physical therapy simultaneously, acupuncture manages pain and releases tension while PT builds strength and corrects movement patterns.

What's the difference between acupuncture and dry needling for back pain?

Acupuncture and dry needling both use thin needles to treat musculoskeletal pain, but acupuncture is a comprehensive treatment that addresses the nervous system, inflammatory pathways, and the whole body, not just the local muscle. Licensed acupuncturists also have thousands of hours more needle training than providers who perform dry needling after a brief certification. We use both approaches at West End Acupuncture, choosing the technique that best fits each patient's condition.