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WHERE CLINICAL CARE, MOVEMENT AND WELLBEING COME TOGETHER TO MAKE CHANGE THAT LASTS
OUR EVIDENCE BASE
Our approach to healthcare integrates modern research with clinical experience and a holistic understanding of wellbeing. We are committed to evidence-informed practice while recognising the complexity of human health. The research outlined below reflects the scientific foundations that support the services we provide.
OSTEOPATHIC RESEARCH
Our approach
Our osteopathy services are delivered using an evidence-based, biopsychosocial framework. We combine detailed clinical assessment with manual therapy, progressive loading principles, and movement-based rehabilitation.
We prioritise accurate diagnosis, clear explanation, and structured treatment planning. Where indicated, we integrate shockwave therapy, movement analysis, or collaborative multidisciplinary care to optimise outcomes.
Our aim is measurable functional improvement - not short-term symptom suppression.
Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment for Low Back Pain
A large systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) for acute and chronic nonspecific low back pain, including pregnancy and postpartum-related back pain.
Fifteen randomized controlled trials involving 1,502 participants were analysed. OMT was delivered using authentic osteopathic clinical judgement rather than single-technique protocols. Moderate-quality evidence demonstrated that OMT significantly reduced pain and improved functional status in both acute and chronic nonspecific low back pain. Clinically meaningful improvements were also observed in pregnant and postpartum women, with particularly strong effects in the postpartum group.
Adverse events were minimal and generally mild.
This review supports osteopathic manipulative treatment as an evidence-based, clinically relevant approach for reducing pain and improving function in nonspecific low back pain across multiple patient populations.
If you would like to view meta-analysis and see raw RCT please view here.
Is Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment Safe?
A 2022 overview of systematic reviews evaluated the efficacy and safety of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) across a wide range of health conditions including musculoskeletal pain, headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, and paediatric conditions.
The researchers analysed systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials, representing 55 primary clinical trials involving more than 3,700 participants. Across the included studies, OMT was most consistently associated with reduced pain and improved functional outcomes in musculoskeletal conditions such as low back pain and neck pain.
Importantly, the review also assessed reported adverse events and safety outcomes. The authors noted that most systematic reviews reported no serious adverse events associated with osteopathic treatment, supporting the safety profile of OMT when delivered by trained practitioners.
While the evidence for some conditions such as paediatric disorders, headache, and irritable bowel syndrome remains limited, the authors concluded that current research suggests osteopathic manipulative treatment is a safe and potentially effective complementary therapy. More information have a read here.
Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment for Headache
A systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) for patients with primary headaches, including migraine, tension-type headache, and cervicogenic headache. The review analysed clinical trials investigating manual osteopathic techniques such as myofascial release, cranial techniques, and joint mobilization.
Across the included studies, osteopathic treatment was associated with reductions in headache frequency, intensity, and duration, as well as improvements in quality of life measures. The strongest evidence was reported for tension-type headache and migraine, where manual therapy appeared to reduce both symptom severity and disability.
The authors concluded that osteopathic manipulative treatment shows promising clinical benefits as a complementary approach to headache management, though larger and higher-quality randomized controlled trials are still needed to strengthen the evidence base. For further information read trial here.
Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment for Chronic Pain
Chronic pain affects millions of people worldwide and often requires a multidisciplinary treatment approach. Research examining osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) suggests it may provide a safe, non-pharmacological option for reducing pain and improving function in chronic musculoskeletal conditions.
Clinical studies and reviews report that osteopathic treatment can reduce pain intensity and improve mobility in conditions such as chronic low back pain, neck pain, and osteoarthritis. Manual techniques used in osteopathy—including soft tissue treatment, joint mobilization, and myofascial release—may help reduce nociceptive input and improve musculoskeletal function.
While evidence quality varies across conditions, many studies indicate that osteopathic treatment can be a useful complementary therapy within a broader chronic pain management strategy, particularly when combined with exercise and rehabilitation approaches. View here.
Exercise Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain
A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis examined the effectiveness of different exercise interventions for chronic non-specific low back pain. The review analysed 35 randomized controlled trials involving 2,132 participants to compare the impact of multiple exercise approaches on pain and disability.
Exercise interventions included Pilates, yoga, core stability training, tai chi, walking, stretching, cycling, and aquatic exercise. Overall, exercise therapy significantly reduced pain compared with usual care or other treatments, with a pooled effect size of SMD −0.81 (95% CI −0.91 to −0.72), indicating a clinically meaningful reduction in pain levels.
Among the different exercise types, Pilates, walking, and tai chi demonstrated the largest improvements in pain reduction, while walking, Pilates, and yoga showed the most consistent improvements in functional disability scores such as the Oswestry Disability Index. Pilates also showed the strongest improvements in the Roland–Morris Disability Questionnaire, suggesting benefits for daily functional activities.
The findings support current clinical guidelines recommending exercise as a first-line treatment for chronic low back pain, highlighting that structured movement therapies can significantly reduce pain and improve functional ability. Low-impact activities such as walking, Pilates, and tai chi appear particularly effective and accessible options for long-term management of back pain. If you want an excuse to keep active read here.
ACUPUNCTURE RESEARCH
Acupuncture for Chronic Pain
A large individual patient data meta-analysis examined the effectiveness of acupuncture across multiple chronic pain conditions, including back and neck pain, osteoarthritis, shoulder pain, and chronic headache. The analysis included 39 high-quality randomized controlled trials with over 20,800 patients, making it one of the most robust datasets available on acupuncture outcomes.
Acupuncture was found to be significantly more effective than both no treatment and sham (placebo) acupuncture across all pain conditions (p < 0.001). Effect sizes were moderate when compared to no treatment (~0.5 standard deviations) and smaller but still meaningful when compared to sham (~0.2), indicating that acupuncture’s effects are not purely placebo-driven.
In practical terms, patients receiving acupuncture experienced greater reductions in pain and improved function, with response rates higher than both usual care and sham interventions. Importantly, the benefits were shown to persist over time, with only a small reduction (~15%) in effect after one year, suggesting lasting clinical impact beyond the treatment period.
The study also found that outcomes were influenced more by the type of comparison treatment (e.g. usual care vs intensive rehab) than by the specific style of acupuncture, reinforcing acupuncture as a flexible and clinically effective intervention within a broader care plan.
Overall, this evidence supports acupuncture as a safe, evidence-based option for managing chronic pain, with benefits that extend beyond placebo and remain meaningful over time.
Read more here
Acupuncture for Chronic Low Back Pain
A large randomized controlled trial investigated the effectiveness of acupuncture for people with chronic low back pain, comparing individualised acupuncture, standardised acupuncture, simulated (non-insertive) acupuncture, and usual care. The study included 638 participants, making it one of the more robust trials in this area. Participants received up to 10 treatment sessions over 7 weeks, with outcomes measured at 8, 26, and 52 weeks. The study assessed both pain levels and functional ability, using validated clinical scales.
At 8 weeks, all acupuncture groups (individualised, standardised, and simulated) showed significantly greater improvements in function and pain compared with usual care. Around 60% of participants receiving acupuncture experienced meaningful improvements, compared with 39% in the usual care group.
These improvements were not just short-term - benefits in functional outcomes were maintained for up to 12 months, with participants continuing to show better outcomes than those receiving usual care alone.
Interestingly, the study found no significant difference between real acupuncture and simulated (non-insertive) acupuncture, suggesting that stimulation of acupuncture points - rather than precise needle placement or depth - may be sufficient to produce therapeutic effects.
Overall, this research supports acupuncture as a safe and effective option for managing chronic low back pain, with meaningful improvements in both pain and function when compared to usual care.
Clinical takeaway - Acupuncture provides meaningful improvements in chronic low back pain and function, with benefits lasting up to 12 months. Read more here.
COMMUNITY AURICULAR ACUPUNCTURE CLINIC
Our approach
Our community acupuncture clinic uses two of the most-studied and widely-delivered auricular (ear) acupuncture protocols in the world - Battlefield Acupuncture (BFA) and the NADA 5-point protocol. Both are safe, gentle, and well-suited to a group clinic setting, which is what allows us to offer the clinic on a sliding scale from koha $15.
These are not fringe techniques. Between them, BFA and NADA are used across the US Department of Veterans Affairs, in prisons and psychiatric services across Europe, in more than 40 countries for addiction and trauma recovery, and in international disaster relief settings from post-9/11 New York to Ukraine, Kenyan refugee camps, and post-hurricane response in the Gulf of Mexico.
The research below reflects why we chose these two protocols to underpin our community clinic model.
Battlefield Acupuncture - The Largest Real-World Effectiveness Study
A large observational study evaluated the effectiveness of Battlefield Acupuncture (BFA) across the US Veterans Health Administration system, following 11,406 veterans who received BFA at 57 VHA medical centres over a two-year period (2016–2018). It remains the largest real-world dataset available on BFA.
Patients rated their pain on a 0–10 scale immediately before and after each BFA session. The mean pre-treatment pain score was 6.3, dropping to 3.8 immediately post-treatment - an average reduction of 2.5 points on the standard pain rating scale. 82% of patients reported a decrease in pain after their first session, and similar reductions were seen at subsequent visits.
Adverse events were extremely rare: of 1,946 procedures with recorded complications data, only 12 (0.6%) reported any complication, all minor.
Clinical takeaway - Battlefield Acupuncture produces immediate, meaningful reductions in pain across a large and diverse patient population, with an excellent safety profile. Read more here.
Battlefield Acupuncture - Individual and Group settings
An earlier VA study looked specifically at whether BFA could be delivered effectively in a group setting, or whether one-to-one treatment was required. 284 veterans received a total of 753 BFA treatments at the West Haven VA Medical Center, in both individual and group formats, over a 15-month period.
BFA was effective for immediate pain reduction across the study population regardless of setting. It was also associated with improvements in the pain-comorbid conditions frequently seen alongside chronic pain - post-traumatic stress, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and depression.
Clinical takeaway - Battlefield Acupuncture is effective when delivered in a group clinic setting, which is the model we use at Waitākere Health Hub. Read more here.
Battlefield Acupuncture - Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
A 2021 systematic review and meta-analysis pooled the available randomized controlled trials of Battlefield Acupuncture for adult pain, providing the most rigorous synthesis of the evidence to date.
The analysis found that BFA outperformed no-acupuncture controls (usual care) with effect sizes in the range of 0.42–0.55 standard deviations - a clinically meaningful difference. Its performance versus sham (placebo) acupuncture was smaller and less consistent, which is common across the acupuncture literature and reflects the difficulty of designing a truly inert sham. Across every included trial, BFA was rated as safe and rapidly learnable by clinicians.
Clinical takeaway - Battlefield Acupuncture provides a meaningful clinical benefit over standard care for adult pain, is consistently safe, and can be delivered by trained practitioners in high-volume clinical settings. Read more here.
NADA 5-Point Protocol - Current Perspectives Review
The NADA (National Acupuncture Detoxification Association) 5-point auricular protocol was developed in the 1970s at Lincoln Hospital in the South Bronx as an adjunct to addiction treatment, and has since become the most widely-implemented acupuncture-assisted intervention in behavioural health worldwide.
A comprehensive 2016 review published in Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation summarised the evidence base for NADA across substance use disorders, anxiety, sleep, trauma, and general behavioural health. The review documented NADA's use across public health, harm reduction, psychiatric, correctional, and humanitarian settings in over 40 countries, and analysed the clinical evidence for its role as an adjunctive therapy.
The review concluded that NADA is a safe, low-cost, and scalable non-pharmacological intervention. Its greatest documented benefit is as an adjunct to conventional treatment - improving engagement, retention, and reduction of secondary symptoms such as anxiety, sleep disturbance and cravings - rather than as a stand-alone therapy.
Clinical takeaway - NADA is a well-documented adjunctive protocol with broad international clinical use and a strong safety record, particularly for anxiety, sleep, trauma-related symptoms, and substance use recovery. Read more here.
NADA Protocol - Treatment Retention and Substance Use Outcomes
A 2014 study published in Acupuncture in Medicine followed 231 patients through a 90-day inpatient dual-diagnosis treatment programme where the NADA protocol was offered as an adjunctive therapy. 88% of participants had nicotine dependence and 79% had a co-occurring personality disorder diagnosis - a group traditionally associated with high dropout rates in addiction treatment.
Use of the NADA protocol was significantly correlated with successful completion of the programme, successful tobacco cessation, and maintenance of sobriety at one year post-discharge. The correlation was particularly strong for the sub-group of patients with borderline personality disorder - a population often considered difficult to retain in treatment.
Clinical takeaway - NADA is associated with meaningful improvements in treatment retention and long-term recovery outcomes in complex substance use and behavioural health populations. Read more here.
NADA Protocol - Insomnia and Sleep
A 2016 randomized controlled trial compared the NADA 5-point auricular acupuncture protocol with cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-i) - the current gold-standard non-pharmacological treatment for chronic insomnia. 59 adults with chronic insomnia were randomised to one of the two treatments, with outcomes measured at post-treatment and at 6 months.
Both interventions produced clinically significant reductions in insomnia severity, sustained at 6-month follow-up. CBT-i was superior overall, but NADA still produced clinically meaningful improvement, particularly in patients who preferred a non-verbal, body-based approach or who did not have access to CBT-i.
Clinical takeaway - the NADA protocol is a valid, evidence-based option for improving chronic sleep problems, especially in settings where CBT-i is not available or not the right fit for the patient. Read more here.
Why we use both - the community clinic model
Battlefield Acupuncture and NADA are, in a real sense, complementary. BFA is the more targeted analgesic protocol, developed for acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain. NADA is broader - designed to work with the autonomic nervous system, supporting the emotional, sleep, and trauma-related dimensions that so often accompany chronic pain, illness, and life stress.
Delivering both in a group clinic setting, on a sliding scale, is not our invention. This model has been running for decades - through the POCA network in the United States, ACMAC in the United Kingdom, Acupuncturists Without Borders internationally, and community acupuncture clinics across Australia and Canada. The evidence for the model, and for the two protocols within it, is why we chose to bring it to West Auckland.