Does Acupuncture Improve Quality of Life for Patients with Pain Associated with the Spine? A Systematic Review

Table 4

Detailed STRICTA information.

(a)

Study	Rationale of acupuncture	Style of acupuncture (L versus D points, APs, TPs)/types of stimulation	U versus B/number of needles used	Needle retention time/treatment; regiment (described in number of treatment/period)/De Qi.
Brinkhaus et al.; [19]	NM	L and D, APs, TPs/M	B/>= 10	30 min/12 x/8 wks (2 x/wk for 4 wks followed by 1 x/wk for 4 wks.)/yes.
Irnich et al.; [20]	TCM and other points.	L and D based on the affected meridians, APs and TPs/NM	NM/NM	30 min/5 x/3 wks/NM, local twitch; is elicited for TPs.
Itoh et al.; [21]	TP theory	TP/NM	NM/2–7	10 min/NM/NM, but stated to achieve “local twitch response”.
Kerr et al.; [22]	CTs and TI	L and D/M	B/11	30 min/6 x/6 wks/yes.
Kennedy et al.; [23]	TI, CTs, and expert’s opinion.	L and D/M with even technique	U or B depending on patient’s pain/8 to 13	30 min/3–12 x/4–6 wks/yes.
Vas et al.; [24]	TI	L and D, APs/M	B/7 to 16	30 min/2 x/wk for 2 wks followed by; 1 x/wk for 1 wk/yes.
White et al.; [25]	TI and experts consensus.	L and D/M	B when pain is B/6 on average.	20 min/2 x/wk for 4 wks/yes
Witt et al.; [26]	At the physicians’ discretion.	At the physicians’ discretion/At the physicians’ discretion, but electroacupuncture, laser acupuncture and moxibustion were not permitted.	At the physicians’ discretion/at the physicians’ discretion.	At the physicians’ discretion/15 x/3 mths/at the physicians’ discretion.

(b)

Author and date	Acupoints used in the trial	Acupuncturist’s training	Cointervention
Brinkhaus et al.; [19]	BL20 to 34; BL50 to 54; GB30; GV3, 4, 5 and 6; Huatuojiaji and Shiqizhuixia. SI3; BL40, 60 and 62; KI3 and 7; GB31, 34 and 41; LR3 and GV14 and 20. For patients experiencing local or pseudoradicular sensation, at least two local points were acupunctured. APs and TPs could be chosen individually.	>= 140 hours of training, >3 yrs experience.	NSAID.
Irnich et al.; [20]	Frequently used point SI3, BL10, BL60, LR3, GB20, GB34, TE5. APs: cervical. TPs in trapezius (near GB20) and levator scapulae (near SI14).	4 experienced licensed medical acupuncturists; training not mentioned.	None (even no concomitant analgesics).
Itoh et al.; [21]	TPs based on individual patients’ response.	4 yrs of training and 7 yrs of clinical experience.	NM.
Kerr et al.; [22]	BL23, BL25, GB30, BL40, KI3, and GV4.	A chartered physiotherapist trained in acupuncture; experience not mentioned.	A leaflet included standardized advice and exercise.
Kennedy et al.; [23]	GV3, GV4, BL23, 25, 36, 37, 40, 56, 60, GB29-31, 34.	Senior experienced physiotherapists with >= 10 yr experience and were members of the Acupuncture Association of Chartered. Physiotherapists.	Staying active and routine medications.
Vas et al.; [24]	GB20, GB21, LR3, LI4, GB34, BL10, GV14, SI3, BL62, GB39, Yintang, GV20, SP6.; AP: shenmen, neck, liver, muscle relaxation, occiput, thalamus, ear kidney.	Accredited by the Beijing University of Medical Science (China) and >15 yrs clinical experience.	Auricular seeds and rescue medication (diclophenac) (if pain relief not obtained).
White et al.; [25]	Unable to locate the list of points.	Trained with the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists and 7 yrs clinical experience.	Acetaminophen.
Witt et al.; [26]	At physician’s discretion.	At least >= 140 hours of training and wide variation trainings in style and acupuncture technique.	Conventional treatments.

AP: Auricular point; B: Bilateral; CT: controlled trials; D: Distal; L: Local.
LBP: Low back pain; M: Manual; Mth: month; NM: not mentioned.
TI: Textbooks information; TP: Trigger point; U: Unilateral.
Wk: week; TCM: traditional Chinese Medicine; yr: year.