For millions of older Americans, waking up each morning brings not the comfort of a new day but the persistent reminder of pain. Chronic low back pain, the most common cause of disability worldwide, is not just a physical ache—it’s a thief of joy, mobility, and independence. More than one-third of older adults in the United States live with this condition, often forced to choose between limited relief from medications and the side effects those drugs bring.
In this difficult landscape, new research offers hope. According to a recent study published in JAMA Network Open, acupuncture may hold real promise for older adults battling chronic back pain—providing meaningful, sustained improvements in both function and pain reduction.
A Study Designed for Real Lives
The study, known as BackInAction, wasn’t just another small clinical trial in a sterile lab. It involved 800 adults aged 65 and older, men and women who had been living with persistent low back pain for at least three months. Importantly, participants weren’t restricted from continuing their usual care—whether that meant pain-relieving medications, physical therapy, or other treatments.
One-third of participants received up to 15 acupuncture treatments over three months. Another third continued acupuncture with additional maintenance sessions, while the remaining participants relied solely on usual care. What makes this study especially significant is that it was pragmatically designed—mirroring how treatments would work in real-world settings, with licensed community acupuncturists providing the care.
Dr. Lynn L. DeBar, the lead author and a distinguished investigator at Kaiser Permanente, summarized the importance of the findings: “Of the different treatments we have for chronic low back pain, most have a somewhat modest effect. Our clinical results suggest that acupuncture is working as well as many things that are more familiar to people. The size of this effect, while modest, was positive and sustained.”
The Healing Needles: How Acupuncture Works
Acupuncture, rooted in traditional East Asian medicine, has steadily grown in acceptance in the United States since the 1970s. The practice involves inserting ultra-fine needles into specific points on the body. While the traditional explanation references energy pathways, modern science suggests that acupuncture may stimulate the nervous system, release endorphins, improve circulation, and reduce inflammation.
For older adults, the appeal of acupuncture lies in its gentle, non-addictive, and low-risk approach. Unlike long-term use of opioids or invasive procedures, acupuncture provides a safer path—especially for people juggling multiple health concerns.
Results That Matter
The BackInAction trial did more than confirm what many patients already sensed—that acupuncture can help. It offered measurable evidence of improvement:
- Pain Reduction and Function: At both the six-month and 12-month marks, participants who received acupuncture reported greater reductions in pain and disability compared to those who received usual care alone. Everyday tasks—walking, bending, lifting—became easier.
- Mental Health Benefits: Those receiving acupuncture also reported fewer symptoms of anxiety, a significant finding given how chronic pain often intertwines with emotional distress.
- Safety Profile: The trial recorded very few adverse effects, underscoring acupuncture’s safety compared to other common back pain treatments.
Dr. Andrea J. Cook, co-lead researcher, highlighted this key point:
“Older adults are often dealing with other medical problems in addition to back pain. Acupuncture offers a less invasive option that has a better safety profile than a lot of the common treatments for back pain in older adults.”
Why This Study Matters
What sets BackInAction apart from earlier research is not only its focus on older adults—a group often overlooked in clinical trials—but also its commitment to reflecting the true diversity of the U.S. population. Researchers worked to ensure participants came from multiple regions, with demographics matching national census data.
This means the results are not just relevant in theory, but directly applicable to older Americans across the country.
It also brings attention to a crucial policy question: access. While manual acupuncture needling is eligible for Medicare coverage, the process isn’t straightforward. If acupuncturists were allowed to bill Medicare directly, as study authors suggest, it could dramatically expand access for older adults who might otherwise struggle to afford care.
Rethinking Pain Management
Chronic low back pain doesn’t just wear down the body—it erodes independence, limits social engagement, and affects mental health. For decades, the medical system has leaned heavily on prescription medications and physical therapy, often with modest results. Worse, in some cases, reliance on addictive painkillers has fueled larger public health crises.
In this light, the findings of BackInAction point toward a future where pain management is more holistic, individualized, and safe. Acupuncture is not a miracle cure, but it represents a meaningful tool in the growing toolkit of integrative medicine.
A Future of Possibility
The story of acupuncture in America reflects a larger truth about medicine itself: healing evolves. What was once considered alternative is now entering the mainstream, guided by rigorous research and evidence-based practice. For older adults weighed down by years of back pain, this evolution offers something invaluable—hope.
As Dr. DeBar and her team emphasize, acupuncture may not replace every existing treatment, but it deserves a seat at the table alongside them. By improving access, expanding coverage, and continuing to study its effects, the medical community can offer millions of older Americans not just relief from pain, but also the gift of mobility, independence, and dignity.
Because in the end, chronic back pain is not just about sore muscles or aching joints—it’s about quality of life. And every step toward easing that burden is a step toward giving people back the freedom to live fully.
More information: Acupuncture for Chronic Low Back Pain in Older Adults: A Randomized Pragmatic Clinical Trial, JAMA Network Open (2025). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.31348
