Efficacy of Low-Dose Laser Acupuncture for Low Back Pain

Exclusion Criteria

• •Pregnant or planning pregnancy; females unwilling to use pregnancy prevention during the study
• •Current or past history of trauma or cancer
• •Prior spine surgery
• •Severe infection (e.g., tuberculosis, pyogenic abscess)
• •Fever ≥38°C lasting ≥48 hours at recruitment
• •Cauda equina syndrome
• •Significant spinal cord compression with serious disability (per medical history)
• •Osteoporosis requiring pharmacologic treatment
• •Severe dementia, cognitive impairment, other major cerebral disease, or severe psychiatric/psychological disorder
• •Significant renal or hepatic disease
• •BMI ≥34.9 kg/m²
• •History of recreational drug abuse
• •Use of systemic steroids within the past 6 months
• •Use of any analgesics (including paracetamol) within the past 30 days
• •Acupuncture treatment within the past 30 days