Welcome to the International Acupuncture Association of Physical Therapists (IAAPT).

IAAPT – a subgroup of World Physiotherapy

Attention Members,

The focus for this year’s World PT Day is low back pain, and the role of physiotherapy in its management.

Below is a list of recent research evidence on acupuncture for low back pain. This is provided to enhance physiotherapy knowledge when applying needling therapies for low back pain.

In particular, IAAPT recommends reviewing the World Health Organisation published (2023) guideline for non-surgical management of chronic primary low back pain in adults in primary and community care settings.

Carretta, L. T. A., Teixeira, P. R., Dias, A. C. P., Devens, C. M., Rones, L. N., Bonacossa, C. K., & Barbosa, C. N. B. (2024). Efficacy of Acupuncture in Chronic Low Back Pain Treatment: A Literature Review. Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medical Research, 25(2), 10-16.
Giovanardi, C. M., Gonzalez-Lorenzo, M., Poini, A., Marchi, E., Culcasi, A., Ursini, F., Faldini, C., Di Martino, A., Mazzanti, U., Campesato, E., Matrà, A., Cevoli, S., & Benedetti, M. G. (2023). Acupuncture as an alternative or in addition to conventional treatment for chronic non-specific low back pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Integrative Medicine Research, 12(3), 100972. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10448023/pdf/main.pdf
Kim, G., Kim, D., Moon, H., Yoon, D.-E., Lee, S., Ko, S.-J., Kim, B., Chae, Y., & Lee, I.-S. (2022, 2023/01/01). Acupuncture and Acupoints for Low Back Pain: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. The American Journal of Chinese Medicine, 51(02), 223-247. https://doi.org/10.1142/S0192415X23500131
Hong, L., Li, Y.-P., Hou, M.-J., Huang, W.-J., Chen, X.,-L., Gao, Z. & Jiang, Z. (2023). Effect of trigger point acupuncture on pain and functional activity in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain: a randomised controlled trial. Acupuncture in Medicine, 41(3), 130-141. https://doi.org/10.1177/09645284221107685 2023.
Mao, X., He, H., & Ding, J. (2024). Efficacy of Laser Acupuncture for Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Pain Management Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmn.2024.05.001
(2023) WHO guideline for non-surgical management of chronic primary low back pain in adults in primary and community care settings

Note: regarding the WHO guideline, view page 64 of the pdf (page 34 of the document) to read evidence recommendations for low back pain, and page 91 of the pdf (page 61 of the document), where evidence for needling therapies (traditional Chinese acupuncture, myofascial trigger point needling, Western medical acupuncture, and other related therapies (acupressure, moxa, cupping etc.) is presented.

On the same page (page 64 of the pdf), view the following recommendation: Needling therapies such as acupuncture may be offered as part of care to adults, including older people, with CPLBP (conditional recommendation in favour of use, low certainty evidence).

Please note that the same recommendation was made by the WHO for spinal manipulative therapy and structured exercise therapy.

However, IAAPT recommends that any acupuncture intervention provided by a physiotherapist should not be a stand-alone intervention, but always include education, structured exercise therapy and other relevant therapies.

About us

The subgroup consists of academics and clinicians from member organisations (associations in each country). It promotes the dissemination of ideas by means of a journal produced three times a year and ongoing social media posts.

IAAPT encourages a broad approach to the practice of acupuncture, being aware that members need to conform to the rules and regulations that govern registration in their own countries/territories.

Standards of practice for basic safety have been established and accepted by member organisations. IAAPT is continuing to work towards an accepted international basic training.

Current members

History

This organization was founded in 1991 and became the acupuncture and dry needling subgroup of World Physiotherapy in 1999. It was formed by a core group of physiotherapists from parts of the world where physiotherapists had been practicing acupuncture since the early 1980s – Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Sweden and the UK.

Since becoming a subgroup in 1999, membership has grown and currently includes member organizations in Argentina, Australia, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Why join?

By becoming a member of IAAPT you will be able to:

receive the latest acupuncture and dry needling information through our quarterly Meridian Newsletter
benefit from international networking
influence developments in your profession
get links to information sources
contribute to the direction of needling-related training in physiotherapy and receive training information
have access to the most up to date safe acupuncture and dry needling guidelines for physiotherapy practice (updated biennially)
engage in ongoing debates over acupuncture mechanisms
help establish a foundation for good research, relevant to acupuncture as it is used by physiotherapists

Membership

IAAPT has four categories of membership:

Full Membership

An acupuncture clinical interest group recognised by their own physiotherapy association. The association needs to be a full member of World Physiotherapy.

Member Elect

An acupuncture clinical interest group who are applying for recognition by their physiotherapy association, or where the physiotherapy association is not yet a member of World Physiotherapy.

Associate

Individual physiotherapists with an interest in acupuncture who are members of a World Physiotherapy member organisation, but do not have an acupuncture and/or dry needling special interest group.

Honorary

Awarded to individuals who have supported the work of IAAPT and have given outstanding service to the development of acupuncture in physiotherapy.

Only full members have the right to vote on constitutional resolutions.

If you require a membership application form please contact our secretary at secretary@iaapt.wcpt.org