Spondylolisthesis is a condition where the vertebrae slip, narrowing the nerve pathways and causing severe pain in the back, legs, and hips. When nerves are compressed, it leads to intermittent walking and resting, and surgery is recommended if symptoms are severe. A recent Korea-U.S. joint study found that non-surgical oriental medicine treatment is more effective in alleviating pain than Western treatments such as nerve injections.

The joint research team of Mokhuri Oriental Medicine Hospital and the Mayo Clinic in the United States published the results comparing the effects of oriental and Western treatments on 115 patients with spondylolisthesis in the November issue of the international academic journal 'Mayo Clinic Proceedings.' The study, conducted from 2017 to 2022, was a large-scale multinational randomized controlled trial with a follow-up evaluation approximately two years after treatment.

Patients were divided into an oriental medicine muscle-neural rehabilitation group (58 patients) who received relaxation chuna, acupuncture, and exercise therapy, and a Western treatment group (57 patients) who received nerve injections and painkillers. They underwent treatment twice a week for five weeks. Evaluation criteria included the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for back pain, VAS for leg pain, and quality of life.

The study results showed improvement in both groups, but the reduction in pain was significantly greater in the oriental medicine group. Back pain decreased by -25.14 points in the oriental medicine group compared to -14.88 points in the Western treatment group, showing a difference of 10.27 points. Leg pain improved by -29.16 points versus -17.25 points, with an 11.91-point difference in improvement. The effects in the oriental medicine group persisted in the follow-up evaluation 96 weeks after treatment completion.

This study is significant as it is the first multinational clinical trial to scientifically prove the long-term safety and efficacy of chuna, acupuncture, and exercise therapy in patients with spondylolisthesis accompanied by stenosis symptoms. Kim Ki-ok, Director of Mokhuri Oriental Medicine Hospital, stated, "Through collaboration with the world's leading medical institution, the Mayo Clinic, we have objectively verified the effectiveness of oriental medicine treatment," adding, "Evidence has been established that spinal disorders can be improved without procedures or surgery."

Previously, the Mokhuri Oriental Medicine Hospital and Mayo Clinic research team conducted a first randomized controlled trial in 2019 on 34 patients with spinal stenosis. At that time, the oriental medicine group increased their pain-free walking distance from 68 meters to 748 meters, an 11-fold increase, while the Western treatment group increased from 60 meters to 203 meters, a 3.4-fold increase.

This study, an expanded second clinical trial, is noteworthy as it scientifically proves the potential of oriental medicine muscle-neural rehabilitation therapy as a safe and effective non-surgical treatment for patients with spondylolisthesis.

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