To investigate the clinical effect of core stability training combined with acupuncture in the treatment of chronic nonspecific low back pain (CLBP).
Seventy-five CLBP patients were randomly divided into experimental group (=38) and control group (=37) according to a random number table. Patients in the control group were required to perform core stability training, whereas those in the experimental group received core stability training combined with fire needle acupuncture, once every two days, three times per week, for four successive weeks. The Oswestry disability index (ODI), visual analogue scale (VAS), lumbar muscular endurance index, clinical efficacy, as well as average electromyographic (AEMG), root mean square (RMS), median frequency (MF), and average median frequency (AMF) values during multifidus muscle contraction in the two groups before and after the treatment were compared.
After treatment, ODI, VAS, MF, and AMF of the two groups were lower than those before the treatment (<0.01), while the lumbar static and dynamic muscular endurance, AEMG, and RMS values were higher (<0.01). The ODI, VAS, MF, and AMF of the experimental group significantly declined as compared with those of the control group (<0.01), whereas the lumbar static and dynamic muscular endurance, AEMG, and RMS values were elevated (<0.01). The total effective rate of the experimental group was 97.14%(34/35), higher than 85.71%(30/35) of the control group(<0.01).
Core stability training combined with acupuncture effectively enhances lumbar muscular endurance, improves electromyographic signals of multifidus muscle and lumbar function, and relieves pain, implying the good efficacy of such combined therapy in treating CLBP.

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