Introduction Considering the importance of chronic low back pain in disability in older adults, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of auriculotherapy on pain intensity and functional disability in this group.

Materials and methods This single-blind clinical trial was conducted on older adults with chronic low back pain in Kashan, Iran, 2019–2020. Seventy eligible older people were allocated to the intervention and sham groups via block randomisation. In the intervention group, pressure was applied using Varcaria seeds on the Shenmen, sympathetic, nerve subcortex and low back points. The visual analogue scale was completed at the beginning (T0), weekly (T1–T4) and 1 month after intervention (T5). Functional disability was assessed using Oswestry Disability Index at T0, T4 and T5. Data were analysed in per-protocol and intention-to-treat designs using repeated measures analysis of variance and analysis of covariance.

Results There was a significant difference between the two groups regarding disease duration (p=0.012). The interaction effect of time and intervention was significant on pain intensity and functional disability (effect size (ES)=0.858 and ES=0.789, p<0.0001). The pain intensity in the intervention group was significantly lower than in the sham group at T2–T5 (p<0.0001). The functional disability score in the intervention group was significantly lower than in the sham group at T4 and T5 (p<0.0001).

Conclusion Auriculotherapy can reduce pain intensity and functional disability in older adults with chronic low back pain; it can be used as a complementary medicine in care programmes for older adults with chronic low back pain.