A study focused on young people (aged 24 or younger) and elderly individuals (aged 55 years and older) with pain and mental issues. These participants received 5,424 treatments of acupuncture over 282 days. The study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture for reducing pain, improving mental health outcomes such as depression, sleep quality, and anxiety.
The results were impressive, particularly among 500 patients who completed a minimum of 6 sessions.
Even more positive results were seen in patients who completed 12 or more acupuncture treatments.
Pain
- Pain reduction was the most important outcome. Patients who had at least six sessions reported a 65.8% reduction in pain severity. Patients who had completed 12 sessions reported a 75.5% decrease. This study highlights the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating chronic pain.
Sleep
- Acupuncture improved sleep significantly, with an overall improvement of 45.6% and 53.1% for those who received 12 sessions. Patients reported less sleep disturbances, improved sleep efficiency and a reduced need for sleep aids.
Depression
- The study found that participants experienced a 70% reduction in depression severity, and a significant decrease in PHQ-9 scores. This was especially true for those who received more sessions. This highlights the role of acupuncture in treating mental health issues alongside physical symptoms. For Acupuncture Evesham, visit https://www.purelandsacu.co.uk/acupuncture-evesham
Fatigue
- Overall, fatigue scores decreased by 38.2%, demonstrating how acupuncture relieves exhaustion. This is a common symptom among patients with chronic pain or mental health issues.
Anxiety
- Anger scores decreased by 34%, while anxiety scores fell by 36.9%. These results demonstrate acupuncture’s wide-ranging benefits. It offers relief from emotional disturbances, which often accompany chronic pain or stress.
Overall Life Quality
- Patients who received 12 sessions showed a 42.6% increase in the most comprehensive measure of quality of life. This shows the impact of acupuncture when it is integrated into routine health care on physical and mental well-being.