NIH Report Recommends Complementary Health Approaches to Pain

Dr. Ezekiel Akande leads the Somerset Regional Pain Center and provides a full range of services to patients across eastern Kentucky. A longstanding member of the American Academy of Pain Management, Dr. Ezekiel Akande stays current on the latest developments in his area of specialization.

A recently published survey by scientists at the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, part of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), proposes that medications should be only part of the equation in treating chronic pain. Complementary health approaches, including acupuncture, yoga, and tai chi, are also recommended as helping to relieve chronic pain.

The study took in the results of more than 100 randomized controlled trials undertaken throughout the United States over the past half-century. Acupuncture was recommended as useful in treating back pain and knee osteoarthritis, while massage therapy was useful in reducing neck pain. The authors noted that these results help broaden the discussion that primary care providers can have with patients when discussing wellness options.