Battlefield acupuncture: Effectiveness for treatment of acute and subacute pain in a military primary care setting

Abstract

Objective: Battlefield Acupuncture (BFA) is a form of auricular acupuncture that is increasingly rising in popularity as a method of managing pain in military settings. This study aims to contribute to the growing body of literature on the efficacy of BFA by evaluating pain pre- and post- BFA administration and by measuring that pain by level and type. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study evaluating active duty Army members who were receiving care at the outpatient military clinic. Data evaluated all patients undergoing a BFA procedure between March 1, 2020, and November 1, 2020. The pain was rated using a standardized DOD/VA pain scale. Results: Of the 26 patients that met our inclusion criteria, 21 (81%) experienced a decrease in pain following BFA administration, while 5 (19%) experienced no change. No patients experienced an increase in pain. Individuals with a baseline pain of 6 or less experienced a greater decrease in pain than did those with a baseline pain of more than 6. Those with low back pain also experienced a greater reduction in pain than did those with other pain types. Conclusions: BFA effectively reduces pain and can be considered a promising treatment option for pain reduction in a military setting. Further research is needed to evaluate the efficacy of BFA on various pain types.