A 24-year-old female nurse with a 4-month history of low back pain (LBP) was treated with acupuncture because of difficulty to her working. At the first presentation, the numerical rating scale (NRS) value was 7. After 2 weeks, the NRS value improved to 2-3, and she could bend over better, including when working night shifts. After 4 months, the NRS value remained at 1-2 so her relocating or leaving of absence from the ICU department was avoided. Acupuncture treatment for medical staff with LBP could relieve their pain and improve decreased clinical performance in hospitals or clinics.
Keywords: acupuncture; low back pain; medical staff; nurse; oriental medicine; presenteeism.
© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of General and Family Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Japan Primary Care Association.