ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effect of glucosamine hydrochloride on chronic lumbago and backache. MethodsWe selected 328 outpatients with chronic lumbago and backache diagnosed between May 2014 and May 2015, and randomly (with single blind method) divided them into study group (n=172) and control group (n=156). Patients in the control group were treated with ibuprofen and placebo, while those in the study group were treated with ibuprofen and glucosamine hydrochloride. The short-form McGill pain questionnaire (SF-MPQ) was used for investigation at three time points (before the treatment, one month and two months after the treatment). ResultsThe score of SF-MPQ in the study group was 64.34±23.35 before the treatment, 44.04±13.22 one month after the treatment, and 19.87±8.11 two months after the treatment. While in the control group, the results at those three time points were 65.19±24.12, 47.04±11.36, and 54.44±21.39, respectively. There was no obvious difference between the two groups one month after the treatment (P>0.05). The pain was alleviated in both of the two groups one month after the treatment, while the therapeutic effect in the study group was significantly better than that in the control group two months after the treatment (P<0.05). Archenteric complications were found in 3 patients (1.74%) in the study group and 2 (1.28%) in the control group without a significant difference (P>0.05). ConclusionGlucosamine hydrochloride may effectively alleviate the lumbago and backache without any obvious adverse reactions.