Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine practice that involves inserting fine needles into specific pressure points on the body to stimulate healing.

While the exact way acupuncture works is still being studied, evidence suggests it may help improve a range of health issues, including back pain.

Although acupuncture is a generally safe practice thought to help promote healing, release tension, and relieve pain, it’s still possible to experience minor side effects or potentially more severe complications.

Acupuncture has long been studied for its potential to relieve various types of back pain, with some promising results.

Several studies have shown that acupuncture (on its own or along with other medical therapies) can improve chronic (long-term) lower back pain levels. The American College of Physicians has recommended acupuncture as a first-choice nondrug treatment option for chronic and acute (sudden) lower back pain.

Research also suggests that acupuncture can be beneficial for treating specific back issues, like spinal pain, sciatica, muscle strain, and more.

One research analysis found acupuncture to be more effective for back pain than receiving a fake acupuncture treatment. The researchers noted acupuncture may have similar pain-relieving properties to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Another review showed that the benefits of acupuncture for chronic back pain continued for a year post-treatment.

There are hundreds of designated points on the body generally accepted for acupuncture use.

Many of these acupuncture points target upper and lower back pain. Depending on your specific back pain issue, an acupuncture practitioner may use a combination of points. This might include points located:

• Behind the knees
• Along the backs of the legs
• On the tops of the feet
• On the lower, middle, and upper back
• Around the base of the skull and neck
• On the tops of the hands
• On the stomach
• Near the hips
• On the upper ear

Traditional Chinese medicine theory states that acupuncture works by regulating the body’s balance of “qi” (energy pathways). Stimulating specific acupuncture points is thought to rebalance qi—removing energy blockages and potentially improving certain aspects of health.

Medical experts don’t fully understand the exact mechanisms of acupuncture, but there’s evidence that it can affect the nervous system, connective tissues, muscles, and brain. Acupuncture may also support the release of endorphins, natural pain-relieving chemicals.

In some cases, a placebo effect might also play a role. This means that your belief in the benefits of a treatment—like acupuncture—may contribute to your experience of favorable results.

Preparing for an acupuncture appointment starts with selecting a licensed and experienced practitioner. Consider asking a healthcare provider or other trusted medical source for a recommendation for an acupuncturist, preferably one experienced with back pain.

During your first visit, you’ll have a consultation, where the acupuncturist will perform an initial assessment and review your medical history. You can discuss your health background, concerns, symptoms, and goals for acupuncture treatment.

From there, you’ll sit or lie down before the practitioner carefully inserts very thin needles underneath the surface of the skin, targeting specific acupuncture points. It’s possible to feel a tingling or dull aching sensation in those areas, but you shouldn’t feel any noticeable or significant pain. Let the acupuncturist know if there is.

Acupuncturists sometimes use electroacupuncture, which involves running small amounts of electricity through the needles. This can make the treatment more effective and is especially helpful for pain relief.

Once the needles are placed, the practitioner will ask you to relax and breathe. They will carefully remove the needles after about 15-30 minutes. Post-appointment, no recovery time is needed.

Making a Treatment Plan

The practitioner will work with you to establish a recommended treatment plan, which can vary based on your individual back pain and overall health, along with preferences and availability. For example, back pain management might involve twice weekly acupuncture sessions over eight weeks or more.

You may need several treatments before you can determine whether acupuncture will work for you. It could take multiple or ongoing treatments to notice a significant difference in your back pain.

Some insurance plans cover acupuncture, while others do not; ask your insurance company how much you can expect to pay out of pocket. As one example, Medicare Part B covers 12 acupuncture sessions for chronic low back pain (pain with no known cause lasting 12 weeks or longer) within a 90-day period—and an additional eight sessions if you experience improvement.

Acupuncture is generally considered safe and well-tolerated when performed by a licensed professional with extensive training.

Still, it’s possible to experience the following minor side effects during or after an acupuncture session:

• Soreness or pain around the treatment area
• Minor bleeding around the treatment area
• Headache
• Bruising
• Fatigue
• Feeling lightheaded or tired

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates acupuncture needles as medical devices, so they must be sterilized and labeled for single use. Significant complications from acupuncture are rare but could result from using non-sterile needles or improper treatment methods from a certified acupuncturist.

Some of these rare complications could include:

• Severe nausea and vomiting
• Fainting
• Bacterial, viral, or fungal infections
• Punctured organs
• Spinal cord injury

It’s considered good practice to check with a healthcare provider before trying acupuncture, particularly if you have a current infection, heart defibrillator, or bleeding disorder or if you’re taking blood thinners.

While acupuncture is usually safe if you’re pregnant, you might still want to talk to your healthcare provider to ensure this therapy is right for you.

Back pain is common, and depending on the cause, it may go away on its own after a while. You should consider seeing a healthcare provider as soon as possible if your back pain:

• Feels severe
• Happened after an injury
• Doesn’t seem to be improving with home remedies after three days or so
• Comes along with symptoms such as numbness and tingling, unexplained weight loss, fever, or trouble peeing

Getting acupuncture does not replace seeing a healthcare provider about a medical issue. Instead, you might check with your provider first to help answer any questions about complementary health approaches for back pain, like acupuncture.

Back pain is a common reason for getting acupuncture, and some research shows acupuncture may help alleviate chronic and acute back pain.

If you’re considering acupuncture for back pain, ask a healthcare provider to recommend a licensed acupuncturist.