The Effect of Auricular Acupressure on Low Back Pain and Postpartum Fatigue in Postpartum Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of auricular acupressure on postpartum low back pain and fatigue in postpartum women. Methods: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted with 48 postpartum women hospitalized at a tertiary general hospital in Seoul. Participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n=24) or a placebo control group (n=24). The experimental group received auricular acupressure once a week for four weeks at specific acupoints (Shenmen, lumbar vertebrae, kidney, liver, and endocrine), while the control group received pressure on non-therapeutic auricular points. Pain intensity (visual analog scale), pressure pain threshold, and postpartum fatigue were measured. Results: The experimental group showed a significant improvement in pressure pain threshold compared with the control group (F=9.79, p<.001). However, no statistically significant difference was observed between the groups in subjective pain intensity measured by VAS. Postpartum fatigue levels significantly decreased in the experimental group compared to the control group (U=10, p<.001). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that auricular acupressure can significantly improve pressure pain threshold and reduce fatigue levels in postpartum women. These findings highlight its potential as a non-invasive and safe complementary therapy for managing common postpartum symptoms.