Back Pain Response to Different Acupuncture Methods

Inclusion Criteria: * Volunteers 18-60 years of age. * Meet the Classification Criteria of the chronic LBP (having low back pain for more than 6 months), as determined by the referring physician. * At least 4/10 clinical pain on the 11-point LBP intensity scale. * Patients must be able to provoke or exacerbate their chronic LBP using our calibrated exercise-like maneuver. * Must have had a prior evaluation of their low back pain by a health care provider, which may have included radiographic studies. Documentation of this evaluation will be sought from Partners or outside medical records and kept in the subject's research record. * At least a 10th grade English-reading level; English can be a second language provided that the patients feel they understand all the questions used in the assessment measures. Exclusion Criteria: * Specific causes of back pain (e.g. cancer, fractures, spinal stenosis, infections), * Complicated back problems (e.g. prior back surgery, medicolegal issues), * Possible contraindications for acupuncture (e.g. coagulation disorders, cardiac pacemakers, pregnancy, seizure disorder), and conditions that might confound acupuncture intervention effects or interpretation of results (e.g. severe fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis). * Conditions making acupuncture difficult (e.g. paralysis, psychoses), * Prior acupuncture treatment for back pain; 1 year wait for any other type. * The intent to undergo surgery during the time of involvement in the study. * History of cardiac, respiratory, or nervous system disease that, in Dr. Wasan's judgment, precludes participation in the study because of a heightened potential for adverse outcome. For example: asthma or claustrophobia. * Presence of any contraindications to MRI scanning. For example: cardiac pacemaker, metal implants, fear of closed spaces, pregnancy. * Involvement in workmen's compensation or disability claims. * Radicular pain extending below the knee. * Active substance abuse disorders within the last 24 months, based on subject self-report. * Use of more than 60 mg morphine equivalent prescription opioids or steroids for pain.