Author (years) Assessments Assessment times Outcomes Cardoso et al. (2020) [17 ] VAS, PPT Pre-post acupuncture, day 1 Significant decrease in VAS at postacupuncture among the groups Benito-de-Pedro et al. (2020) [18 ] PPT, thermographic measurement Pre-post acupuncture Improved PPT at postacupuncture Fleckenstein et al. (2016) [19 ] VAS, PPT, muscle strength Preacupuncture, days 1, 2, and 3 No significant differences in all assessments at days 1–3 among the groups Martín-Pintado-Zugasti et al. (2017) [20 ] VAS, psychological measure Postacupuncture, days 0.5, 1, and 2 Significant decrease in VAS over time among the groups Yang (2016) [21 ] VAS Postacupuncture, day 1 Significant differences in VAS between the groups Paulson and Shay (2013) [22 ] Sympathetic nervous system responses Pre-post acupuncture Increased skin conductance and decreased skin temperature at postacupuncture Itoh et al. (2011) [23 ] PPT Pre-post acupuncture, day 2 Increased PPT at postacupuncture and day 2 Wang (2009) [24 ] Serum creatine kinase, testosterone Pre-post treatment session Increased level of serum creatine kinase at posttreatment session Itoh et al. (2008) [25 ] VAS Pre-post acupuncture, days 1, 2, 3, and 7 Decreased VAS at postacupuncture Hübscher et al. (2008) [26 ] VAS, PPT, muscle strength Pre-post acupuncture, days 1, 2, and 3 Decreased VAS and increased PPT and muscle strength at days 2-3 Li and Zhai (2006) [27 ] Luteinizing hormone, testosterone, cortisol Pre-post treatment session No significant differences in levels of luteinizing hormone, testosterone, and cortisol between the groups Barlas et al. (2000) [28 ] VAS, PPT, joint range of motion Pre-post acupuncture, days 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 A significant decrease in VAS at days 1–5 among the groups Lin and Yang (1999) [29 ] PPT, serum creatine kinase Preacupuncture, days 1, 2, and 3 A significant decrease in VAS at day 3 among the groups Xiang et al. (1998) [30 ] Serum creatine kinase Pre-post treatment session Decreased levels of serum creatine kinase at postacupuncture Jui (1994) [31 ] PPT, muscle strength, serum creatine kinase Preacupuncture, days 1, 2, and 3 A significant improvement in muscle strength at day 3 and in PPT at day 2 between the groups
