The data do not enable firm conclusions about the effectiveness of acupuncture for low back pain. For chronic low back pain, acupuncture is more effective for pain relief and functional improvement than no treatment or placebo treatment immediately after the treatment and over short term periods only. Acupuncture is more effective than other conventional and “alternative” treatments. The data suggest that acupuncture and needle therapy in trigger points may be helpful aids to other therapies in the treatment of chronic low back pain. Because most of the studies are of low methodological quality, there is certainly a need for high quality clinical trials in this area.