Effectiveness of Acupuncture for Treating Sciatica: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Table 1

Search strategy used in PubMed database.

Number	Search items
1	randomized controlled trial.pt
2	controlled clinical trial.pt
3	randomized.ti,ab
4	randomly.ti,ab
5	groups.ti,ab
6	trial.ti,ab
7	or 1–6
8	acupuncture.ti,ab
9	electro-acupuncture.ti,ab
10	elongated needle.ti,ab
11	three edged needle.ti,ab
12	(fire needle or warming needle).ti,ab
13	auricular acupuncture.ti,ab
14	abdominal acupuncture.ti,ab
15	warm acupuncture.ti,ab
16	pyonex.ti,ab
17	or 8–16
18	sciatica.ti,ab
19	sciatic neuralgia.ti,ab
20	ischialgia.ti,ab
21	ischioneuralgia.ti,ab
22	discogenic sciatica.ti,ab
23	bilateral sciatica.ti,ab
24	disc herniation-induced sciatica.ti,ab
25	or 18–24
26	7 and 17 and 25

This search strategy will be modified as required for other electronic databases.