|
| Author (year of publication) | Sample | Power estimate | Blinding | Intention to treat | Diagnosis | Side effects | Site of study | Acupuncture point selection | Method to locate points | Treatment session | Side treated |
| Size | Intervention | Control | Acupuncture | Patient | Data collector | Point selection | Sham selection |
|
| Alimi et al. (2003) [20] | 90 | AA [ = 29] | Sham AA
= 31
Sham AP
= 30 | 0.9, α: 0.05 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes (no dropout) | Cancer pain | None | France | Electrodermal response at the points on the ear where pain projected | Outside corresponding pain area | Electronic | 2 tx, 1 m apart | Not specified |
|
| Allais et al. (2011) [21] | 89 | AA [ = 43] | Sham
= 46 | n/a | No | Yes | Yes | No | Migraine attack | Unbearable exacerbation of pain () | Italy | Head zone (using pain pressure test) | Sciatic nerve zone | Alogometric | 1 tx (no mention of duration) | Not specified |
|
| Barker et al. (2006) [22] | 38 | AP [ = 18] | Sham AP
= 20 | 0.8, α: 0.05 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (no dropout) | Hip fracture | n/a | Austria | Shenmen, hip, valium point | Tip of the concha | None specified | 1 tx | Bilateral |
|
| Goertz et al. (2006) [23] | 100 | AA [ = 50] | Standard
care
= 50 | n/a | No | No | Yes | Yes | Acute pain | n/a | U.S. | Cingulate gyrus and thalamic nuclei (mediate acupuncture analgesia) | None | None specified | 1 tx (4–6 days until fell out) | Not specified |
|
| Hunter et al. (2012) [24] | 51 | AA + exercise [ = 24] | Exercise
alone
= 27 | 0.8, α: 0.05, (56/group in full trial) | No | No | Yes | No | Chronic low back pain | Pain, redness, minor bleeding | North
Ireland | Shenmen, lumbar spine and cushion | n/a | None specified | 6 tx (AA for 48 hrs until fell out), 6 wks | Not specified |
|
| Kindberg et al. (2009) [25] | 207 | AA [ = 105] | Local
anesthetics
= 102 | 0.8, α: 0.05 | No | No | Yes | Yes | Intended vaginal delivery | None | Denmark | Helix (genital), shenmen, bladder 36, governor vessel 20 (general relaxation) (4 points) | n/a | None specified | 1 tx | Bilateral |
|
| Lewis et al. (1990) [26] | 11 | EA [ = 11] | Placebo pill
= 11
(crossover) | n/a | No | Yes | No | No | Burns with pain | n/a | U.S. | Shenmen, lung, dermis, three more per burn locale (6 points) | Placebo pill | Electronic | 1 tx | Bilateral |
|
| Longobardi et al. (1989) [27] | 15 | EA [ = 8] | Sham
= 7 | n/a | No | Yes | No | No | Distal extremity pain | n/a | U.S. | Shenmen, lung, dermis, two more due to painful extremity (corresponding points) | n/a | Electronic | 1 tx (10 min) | Bilateral |
|
| Romoli et al. (2000) [28] | 60 | EAS + mobilization
= 20 | Body EAS + mobilization
= 20,
mobilization
= 20 | 0.9, α: 0.05 | No | No | Yes | No | Shoulder pain (chronic pain) | n/a | Italy | Corresponding point of shoulder | n/a | Probe | 1 tx (15–20 min), 5 wks | Bilateral |
|
|
Sator- Katzenschlager et al. (2006) [29] | 94 | AA [ = 32]
EAS [ = 32] | Control
= 30 | 0.8, α: 0.05 | n/a | Yes | Yes | Yes | Perioperative pain | None | Austria | Uterus, shenmen and cushion | n/a | Electronic | 1 tx (3 hrs) | Dominant side |
|
| Usichenko et al. (2005) [30] | 18 | AA [ = 10] | Sham
= 8 | n/a | No | Yes | Yes | No | Post-knee surgery pain | None | Germany | Shenmen, lung, knee | Nonacupuncture points (helix) | Electronic | 1 tx | Not specified |
|
| Usichenko et al. (2005) [31] | 54 | AA [ = 29] | Sham
= 25 | 0.8, α: 0.05 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Post-hip surgery pain | Pain from needle, hemorrhages, headache | Germany | Shenmen, lung, thalamus and hip points | Nonacupuncture points (helix) | Electronic | 1 tx (stay for 3 days) | Not specified |
|
|
Yeh et al. (2010) [32] | 74 | AP [ = 36] | Control
= 38 | 0.8, α: 0.05 | No | Yes | No | No | Postoperative pain | n/a | Taiwan | Shenmen, occipital, lumbar-sacrum vertebra, stomach, cardia, endocrine | n/a | Identified by two clinical acupuncture experts | 1 tx (72 hrs) | Unilateral |
|
| Yeh et al. (2013) [33] | 19 | AP [ = 10] | Sham
= 9 | n/a | No | Yes | No | No | Chronic low back pain | Allergy to tape, pain on ear points | U.S. | Shenmen, subcortex, sympathetic, corresponding points | Stomach, duodenum, mouth, kidney | Electronic | Weekly tx, 4 wks | Bilateral |
|
| Yeh et al. (2013) [34] | 100 | AP + interactive Internet based intervention [ = 50] | AP only
= 50 | 0.8, α: 0.05 | n/a | n/a | n/a | No | Dysmenorrhea | n/a | Taiwan | Shenmen, kidney, liver, internal genitals, central rim, endocrine | n/a | Identified by two acupuncturists | 1 tx (after pain relief 48 hrs later) | Not specified |
|
| Wang et al. (2009) [35] | 159 | AA [ = 58] | Sham
= 54;
Control
= 47 | 0.85, : 0.05 | No | Yes | Yes | No | Low back and/or posterior pelvic pain | n/a | U.S. | Shenmen, kidney, analgesia | Wrist, shoulder, extra auricular points | Zone system | 1 tx (1 wk) | Unilateral |
|
| Wang et al. (2007) [36] | 80 | AP [ = 40] | Usual care
= 40 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | No | Laparoscopic cholecystotomy | n/a | China | Shenmen, subcortex, sympathetic, pancreas, bile, liver, shoulder, endocrine, duodenum, spleen | n/a | None specified | 1 tx (press 20 min/
time, 3 times/day) | Not specified |
|
|
Yang and Zhang (2011) [37] | 60 | AP [ = 30] | Pain medication
= 30 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | No | Hemorrhoid | n/a | China | Shenmen, subcortex, corresponding point (anal) | n/a | Probe | 1 tx (press 30–50 times, 3–4 times/day) | Unilateral |
|
| Ma and Fang (2011) [38] | 80 | AP [ = 40] | Usual care and pain medication
= 40 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | No | Renal colic pain | n/a | China | Kidney, sympathetic, ureter, san jiao | n/a | None specified | 1 tx (press 1-2 min, repeat per 5 minutes) | Not specified |
|
| Zhang and Tzu (2011) [39] | 100 | AP [ = 50] | Usual care
= 50 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | No | Replantation of digits | n/a | China | Shenmen, subcortex, sympathetic, corresponding point | n/a | None specified | 1 tx (press 3–5 min, 3 times/day) | Bilateral |
|
| Li et al. (2012) [40] | 180 | EAS [ = 60] | EAS
= 60,
Control
= 60 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | No | Cesarean section | n/a | China | Shenmen | Eye | None specified | 1 tx (stim. 30 min, repeat at 4th, 10th, 22nd hr) | Not specified |
|
| Wang et al. (2012) [41] | 60 | AA [ = 30] | No AA
= 30 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | No | Hip replacement | n/a | China | Shenmen, kidney, subcortex hip | n/a | None specified | 1 tx (press 5–10 min/time, 4 times/day) | Not specified |
|
