Yale Researcher Studying Acupuncture To Reduce Back Pain In Pregnancy

A Yale researcher and expert in the practice of acupuncture is conducting a three-year study on the effectiveness of this
ancient Chinese practice in reducing low back pain during pregnancy.


The study is funded with a $400,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health and will include 150 women who are at least
24 weeks pregnant. The lead researcher, Shu-Ming Wang, M.D., associate professor of anesthesiology at Yale School of
Medicine, was approached by a colleague three years ago who was suffering from severe low back pain and sciatica in the final
months of her pregnancy.


"She asked if I could do anything to help," said Wang, who inserted three, two-millimeter needles into her colleague's ear.
"She recovered immediately." A subsequent survey of more than 1,000 pregnant women in New Haven County showed that 65 percent
suffered from low back pain and sciatica. The survey was conducted by Yale-New Haven Hospital in conjunction with Wang, who
is an attending anesthesiologist at the hospital.


Acupuncture involves stimulation of anatomical points on the body by a variety of techniques, including penetrating the skin
with thin, solid, metallic needles that are manipulated by the hands or by electrical stimulation. In this study each of two
groups of women will receive slightly varying acupuncture treatment. The remaining group will receive no treatment and serve
as a basis of comparison. Wang said those women who do not receive treatment and those who do not improve with assigned group
interventions will be invited to return for additional treatment at no cost after the study is completed.


The treatment consists of three tiny needles inserted on one side of the ear. The women will be asked to remove the needles
after one week and the results will be measured two weeks after the treatment was initiated. "They can sleep, and shower, and
forget about the needles, other than when they answer the telephone," Wang said.


Co-investigators include Michael Berman, M.D., James Yue, M.D., Ferne Braveman, M.D., Zeev Kain, M.D., and Haiqun Lin, M.D.



Persons interested in participating in the study should call Wang's office at 203-737-1149 and leave their name and contact
information.


Jacqueline Weaver - jacqueline.weaveryale

Yale University