Changes of Local Blood Flow in Response to Acupuncture Stimulation: A Systematic Review

Table 3

Muscle blood flow results of comparison between groups.

Author (year)	Immediately after acupuncture insertion or manipulation	During acupuncture	After acupuncture withdrawal	Follow-up
⁢Acupuncture versus no-acupuncture
Sandberg et al. (2005) [17]	HS: p < 0.001 (↑); FM: p < 0.001 (↑); TM: p = 0.009 (↑)	HS: p < 0.001 (↑); FM: p = 0.001 (↑); TM: NS	HS: p = 0.002 (↑); FM: p = 0.002 (↑); TM: NS	HS: NS; FM: NS; TM: NS
Sandberg et al. (2004) [18]	FM: p < 0.001 (↑)	FM: p < 0.001 (↑)	—	—
Sandberg et al. (2003) [19]	p = 0.001 (↑)	p = 0.007 (↑)	—	—
⁢Acupuncture versus superficial acupuncture
Sandberg et al. (2005) [17]	HS: NS; FM: p < 0.001 (↑); (Sup > Deep); TM: NS	HS: p < 0.001 (↑); FM: NS; TM: NS	HS: p = 0.002 (↑); FM: NS; TM: NS	HS: NS; FM: NS; TM: NS
Sandberg et al. (2004) [18]	FM: p < 0.001 (↑)	FM: p < 0.001 (↑)	—	—
Sandberg et al. (2003) [19]	p = 0.001 (↑)	p = 0.007 (↑)	—	—
⁢Acupuncture with manipulation versus insertion-only
Sandberg et al. (2003) [19]	p = 0.001 (↑)	p = 0.007 (↑)	—	—

Superficial acupuncture had greater increase of blood flow than deep acupuncture; FM, fibromyalgia patients; HS, healthy subjects; NS, not significantly different; TM, trapezius myalgia patients. “↑” means increase of blood flow compared to the control. “—” means “not reported” or “not applicable.”