A Comparative Study on the Efficacy of Low-Frequency Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation versus Balance Acupuncture at the Lumbago Acupoint in Treating Training-Induced Low Back Pain
WEI Hengxu
TIAN Zikai
WANG Zhihui
WANG Junhao
TAO Yuhong
WANG Dingkai
LI Quanming
LI Yao
ZHANG Yin
HUANG Peng
Abstract：Objective To compare the effects of low-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and balance acupuncture at the lumbago acupoint on pain relief and lumbar function improvement in patients with training-induced low back pain at the primary care level.Methods A total of 72 patients with training-induced low back pain admitted to First Medical Center of PLA General Hospital from October 2024 to April 2025 were prospectively selected and divided into a low-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation(TENS)group(36 cases)and a balance acupuncture at the lumbago acupoint group(36 cases)using a random number table.Both groups received their respective treatments for a course of 2 weeks.General data were compared between the two groups.Visual Analogue Scale(VAS)and Oswestry Disability Index(ODI)scores were compared before and after treatment.Results Repeated-measures analysis of variance showed a significant time×group interaction effect on VAS scores(F=4.231,P=0.021).There was no statistically significant difference in VAS scores between the two groups before treatment and at the 7-day follow-up(P>0.05).After treatment and at the 3-day and 7-day follow-ups,VAS scores in both groups were significantly lower than before treatment(P<0.05).After treatment and at the 3-day follow-up,the VAS scores of the balance acupuncture at the lumbago acupoint group[(1.19±1.69)points,(1.14±1.29)points]were significantly lower than those of the low-frequency TENS group[(2.06±1.58)points,(1.81±1.41)points](P<0.05).Repeated-measures analysis of variance showed a significant time×group interaction effect on ODI scores(F=3.894,P=0.035).There was no statistically significant difference in ODI scores between the two groups before treatment(P>0.05).After treatment and at the 3-day and 7-day follow-ups,ODI scores in both groups were significantly lower than before treatment,and the scores of the balance acupuncture at the lumbago acupoint group were significantly lower than those of the low-frequency TENS group(P<0.05).Conclusion Both low-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and balance acupuncture at the lumbago acupoint can effectively alleviate training-induced low back pain and improve lumbar function.Balance acupuncture at the lumbago acupoint is superior to low-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in terms of onset speed and therapeutic intensity.
Keywords：transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulationbalance acupuncturenonspecific low back paintraining-related injuryrehabilitation
Publication Date：2026-03-20
Online Publishing Date：2026-03-26(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：5( 420-424 )