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

Table 2

Acupuncture interventions in the included studies based on the STRICTA recommendation.

Author	Insertion depth	Response sought	Details of needling Stimulation method	Retention time	Needle type	Treatment regimen	Practitioner background
Wang and La 2004 [20]	NR	De-chi response manual	EA	25 min	NR	1 session once a day for 7 days	Physician
Chen et al. 2009 [21]	NR	De-chi response manual	WA	20–35 min	0.3 × 60 mm	3 sessions once daily for 10 days	NR
Zeng 2012 [22]	60 mm (GB 30/BL 54); others 25 mm	De-chi response manual	Manipulated every 10 min, pricking blood	30 min	0.3 × 75 mm	2 sessions once daily for 10 days	NR
Zhang et al. 2008 [23]	40–60 mm	De-chi response manual	Manipulated every 10 min and EA	20 min	0.3 × 40–75 mm	2 sessions once daily for 10 days	Professional acupuncturists
Hu et al. 2010 [24]	60 mm (GB 30); others 40 mm	De-chi response manual	Manipulated every 10 min and EA	30 min	0.3 × 50–75 mm	2 sessions once daily for 10 days	NR
Du et al. 2009 [25]	45–60 mm	De-chi response manual	EA	45 min	0.45 × 75 mm	4 sessions 3 times per week	NR
Chen 2010 [26]	40–75 mm	De-chi response manual	Manipulated every 10 min	30 min	0.3 × 25–40 mm	2 sessions 3 times per week	NR
Wang 2008 [27]	NR	De-chi response manual	WA	NR	0.4 × 75 mm	2 sessions once daily for 10 days	NR
Meng 2014 [28]	NR	NR	EA	30 min	NR	2 sessions once daily for 7 days	Qualified acupuncturist
Ren 2013 [29]	40–75 mm	De-chi response manual	WA	30 min	NR	1 session once a day for 10 days	NR
Zhao 2004 [30]	50–75 mm	De-chi response manual	EA	30 min	0.25 × 75 mm	2 sessions once a day for 10 days	NR

NR: not reported, De-chi: a needle sensation of soreness and numbness, EA: electroacupuncture, WA: warm acupuncture, and STRICTA: standards for reporting interventions in controlled trials of acupuncture.