BackgroundPrevious studies have shown that acupuncture and electroacupuncture (EA) are effective in the treatment of patients with low back pain. However, there is little evidence to support the use of one intervention over the other. The aim of this study is to compare the effect of acupuncture and electroacupuncture in the treatment of pain and disability in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain.Methods/designThe study design is a randomized controlled trial. Patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain of more than three months duration are recruited at Rehabilitation Center of Taboao da Serra - SP (Brazil). After examination, sixty-six patients will be randomized into one of two groups: acupuncture group (AG) (n = 33) and electroacupuncture group (EG) (n = 33). Interventions will last one hour, and will happen twice a week for 6 weeks. The primary clinical outcomes will be pain intensity as measured and functional disability. Secondary outcomes: quality of pain, quality of life. perception of the overall effect, depressive state, flexibility and kinesiophobia. All the outcomes will be assessed will be assessed at baseline, at treatment end, and three months after treatment end. Significance level will be determined at the 5 % level. Results of this trial will help clarify the value of acupuncture and electroacupuncture as a treatment for chronic low back pain and if they are different.DiscussionResults of this trial will help clarify the value of acupuncture needling and electroacupuncture stimulation of specific points on the body as a treatment for chronic low back pain.Trial RegistrationClinicaltrials.gov: NCT02039037. Register October 30, 2013.

Introduction: Falls in the elderly can cause loss of motor function, causing significant damage to their quality of life. Both falls and the fear of falling can be common and cause potentially serious results and, together with depression, are important causes for the loss of autonomy and functional independence of these individuals. Objective: to verify the relationship between the event of a fall and the fear of falling, depression and the quality of life of institutionalized elderly people. Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out in four long-stay institutions. The instruments used were: Mini-Mental State Examination, Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Falls Efficacy Scale (assesses fear of falling), WHOQOL-OLD and WHOQOL-BREF (for quality of life). Results: The sample consisted of 24 institutionalized elderly, 15 women and 9 men, with an average age of 77 years. Statistically significant results showed that women tend to fall more than men (p=0.036), the group that suffered a fall had a greater fear of death and dying in relation to the other group (p=0.032) and that the higher the score of GDS, the greater the fear of falling of these institutionalized elderly. Conclusion: This study showed that elderly people with a history of falls in the last year are more vulnerable to developing fear of suffering a new fall and, therefore, less confidence to carry out basic activities of daily living. In addition, falls are highly related to the quality of life of these elderly people.