A review of three trials looking at the effectiveness of acupuncture for pelvic and back pain in pregnancy, has shown promising results. The authors examined two small trials on mixed back and pelvic pain, and one large, high-quality trial on pelvic pain. Acupuncture, as an adjunct to standard treatment, was superior to standard treatment alone and to physiotherapy in relieving mixed pelvic/back pain. Adverse events were few and only minor. The authors conclude that the limited evidence supports acupuncture use in treating pregnancy-related pelvic and back pain. Additional high-quality trials are needed to test the existing promising evidence for this relatively safe and popular complementary therapy.
(Acupuncture for pelvic and back pain in pregnancy: a systematic review. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, March 2008.)