EFFECT OF ACUPRESSURE ON LOW BACK PAIN IN PATIENTS WITH SPONDYLARTHRITIS

Arthritis of the lumbar spine is known as Disk Arthritis. The most common and
most important sign of Disk Arthritis is back pain. Acupressure is among the methods of alternative
medicine, its impact in reducing pain in various parts of the body and confirming invasive intervention
does not account. Therefore, this study’s aim is to determine the effect of acupressure on the rate of
low back pain in patients with disc arthritis that referred to selected clinics in Isfahan in 2010.
Materials & Methods: This study is a clinical trial. Samples for this study included 40 patients with
disc arthritis referred to clinics in Isfahan hospitals: Alzahra, Sadughi, Kashani and Shariati. Samples
including 40 patients of spondylarthritis were selected by stratified.
Intervention (Acupressure technique) was performed for twenty minutes by professional acupuncture.
Measurements were taken before and after intervention and recorded the intensity of pain's Samples by
visual analog scale and numerical rating scale. For analyzing the data descriptive and analytical
statistical methods (paired-sample T-test) and computer software SPSS18 were used.
Result: The mean of pain after intervention (3.82) significantly decreased in comparison with before
intervention (6.10). (p<0.001)
Conclusion: By assessing the effects of acupressure as safe and effective intervention in reducing
pain in patients in this study, this can be used a simple technique, cheap and executable in all health
centers and even athome for patients to help them