Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the effects of acupuncture practice on the relief of low back pain in pregnant women in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and in the performance of daily activities.

Methods

Quasi-experimental, before and after study performed with 56 pregnant women at gestational age between 14 and 37 weeks, who complained of low back pain. Six acupuncture sessions were performed twice a week lasting 30 minutes each and application of systemic and auricular points. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to assess pain. Absolute and relative frequency were calculated for categorical variables and mean and standard deviation for numerical variables. The tests used for the association were the Wilcoxon for paired measurements, and the McNemar’s test.

Results

There was a significant reduction (p<0.05) in pain index scores. The mean pain score decreased in the evaluation of the second (4.92), fourth (3.24) and sixth (1.00) sessions. For some women, the pain ceased before completing the six sessions and there was improvement in performance of activities impaired by pain.

Conclusion

Acupuncture provided favorable effects for the health of participants, because their pain reduced after the second session. Nurses can review the quality of care to pregnant women based on the knowledge of techniques that contribute to comprehensive care. The holistic care of clients is part of the essence of nursing, aims at patients’ needs and contributes that nurses’ actions as Traditional Chinese Medicine professionals are performed in a qualified, efficient and humanized way.

Acupuncture; Pregnant women; Low back pain; Health promotion; Pain measurement