Table 1.
Characteristics of included studies.
| Author | Age (years) | Duration of disease (years) | Number of acupuncture group | Number of control group | Acupuncture group | Control group | Location of pain | Frequency of acupuncture | Outcome indicator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chen et al. (17) | Acupuncture group:57.73 ± 9.81 control group:58.49 ± 10.87 | Acupuncture group:0.2 ± 0.08 control group:0.19 ± 0.09 | 30 | 30 | Control group+acupuncture | Convalescent training | Neck and shoulder | 5 times per week for 1 month | Clinical efficacy, VAS |
| Xiaolu (18) | Acupuncture group:63.32 ± 2.76 control group:63.35 ± 2.73 | Acupuncture group:2.11 ± 0.06 control group:2.09 ± 0.05 | 56 | 56 | Control group+acupuncture and massage | Celecoxib | Neck and shoulder | Every two days for one month | Clinical efficacy, VAS |
| Xi-liang (19) | Acupuncture group:45.17 ± 5.09 control group:45.87 ± 5.23 | Acupuncture group:1.04 ± 0.23 control group:1 ± 0.22 | 46 | 45 | Control group+acupuncture | Indomethacin + Tizanidine Hydrochloride | Neck and shoulder | Every two days for 14 days | Clinical efficacy, VAS, PPI, PRI |
| Kang (20) | Acupuncture group:45.72 ± 4.80 control group:45.13 ± 5.04 | NA | 30 | 30 | Control group+acupuncture and massage | Tizanidine | Neck and shoulder | NA | Clinical efficacy, VAS, PPI, PRI |
| Hongliang et al. (21) | Acupuncture group:42.96 ± 8.22 control group:43.65 ± 8.62 | Acupuncture group:1.94 ± 0.72 control group:1.71 ± 0.73 | 46 | 46 | Control group+acupuncture | Paracetamol | Lower back | Once a day for 14 days | Clinical efficacy, VAS |
| Xiongjiang et al. (22) | Acupuncture group:43.96 ± 8.42 control group:44.65 ± 8.72 | NA | 48 | 48 | Control group+acupuncture | Lidocaine injection | Lower back | Every two days for 20 days | Clinical efficacy, VAS, PPI, PRI |
| Wang (23) | Acupuncture group:49.58 ± 2.74 control group:49.43 ± 2.89 | Acupuncture group:5.98 ± 1.01 control group:5.78 ± 1.09 | 42 | 41 | Control group+acupuncture | Massage | Lower back | 6 times per week for 21 days | Clinical efficacy, VAS, PPI, PRI |
| Zhijuan etal (24) | Acupuncture group:34.10 ± 9.55 control group:34.12 ± 9.54 | Acupuncture group:3.25 ± 1.05 control group:3.24 ± 1.02 | 49 | 49 | Control group+acupuncture | Hot compress with Chinese medicine | Lower back | 1 time per week for 2 weeks | VAS |
| Yuxia (25) | NA | NA | 30 | 30 | Control group+acupuncture | McKenzie therapy | Neck and shoulder | Every two days. | VAS |
| Hongsheng et al. (26) | Acupuncture group:62.39 ± 5.92 control group:63.51 ± 6.37 | Acupuncture group:2.36 ± 5.28 control group:2.41 ± 4.94 | 50 | 50 | Control group+acupuncture and massage | Celecoxib | Neck and shoulder | Three times a week for one month | Clinical efficacy |