The study found that the most common conditions for which pregnant women received acupuncture treatment were dysfunctional digestion and back pain. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Sept. 27 (Korea Bizwire) – A recent study suggests that acupuncture treatment for indigestion or back pain during pregnancy is safe, and that there are no adverse effects on delivery.
A team of researchers at the Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute said Wednesday that their findings were based on a study of the safety of acupuncture treatment for 20,799 pregnant women.
The research team divided the test subjects into two groups. One group consisted of those who received acupuncture treatments, accounting for 1,030 pregnant women, or 4.95 percent of the total.
The control group, on the other hand did not receive acupuncture treatment, and accounted for 19,749 pregnant women, or 95.05 percent.
The team later conducted a comparative analysis of delivery results, including premature birth and stillbirth.
The results showed no significant difference between premature and stillbirth rates, according to the team.
For premature births, the group who received acupuncture treatment accounted for 8.4 percent of premature births, slightly higher than the 6.9 percent of the control group.
However, there were no stillbirths reported in the acupuncture treatment group, compared to 0.03 percent in the control group.
The team reported that there was no significant difference between the acupuncture treatment group, at 7.1 percent, and the control group, at 6.6 percent when considering the premature birth rate of high-risk pregnant women with diabetes and high blood pressure.
The study found that the most common conditions for which pregnant women received acupuncture treatment were dysfunctional digestion and back pain.
“A large-scale data analysis has confirmed that there is no significant difference in the delivery result even if acupuncture is performed during pregnancy,” said Dr. Moon Hye-yeon, who led the study.
D. M. Park (dmpark@koreabizwire.com)
