Table 2.
Summary of controlled clinical trials on acupuncture and moxibustion in the Japanese literature
| S. no. | Author | years | Diagnosis | Design | n | Intervention (methods) | Control | No. of treatment | Outcome measures | Result | Jadad score | Reference nos |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Itok et al. | 2003 | Chronic low back pain | Crossover | 3 | A: trigger point | B: v (acupuncture point) | 6 | VAS, PDAS | A>B | 1 | (44) |
| 2 | Hirota et al. | 2006 | Chronic low back pain | Parallel | 9 | A: trigger point | B: v (tender point) | 5 | VAS, RDQ | A>B | 3 | (45) |
| 3 | Itoh and Katsumi | 2005 | Chronic low back pain | RCT | 44 | A: trigger point | B: v (acupuncture point), C: ii (placebo) | 3 | VAS, RDQ | A>B>C | 4 | (46) |
| 4 | Itoh et al. | 2005 | Chronic low back pain | Crossover | 8 | A: trigger point | B: v (acupuncture point) | 6 | VAS, JOA | A>B | 1 | (47) |
| 5 | Katsumi et al. | 2004 | Chronic low back pain | RCT, crossover | 9 | A: trigger point | B: ii (placebo) | 6 | VAS, RDQ | A>B | 4 | (48) |
| 6 | Itoh | 2004 | Chronic low back pain | RCT | 18 | A: trigger point | B: v (acupuncture point) | 6 | VAS, RDQ | A>B | 2 | (49) |
| 7 | Itoh et al. | 2004 | Chronic low back pain | Crossover | 4 | A: acupuncture point (EA) | B: v (retaining needle) | 10 | VAS, PDAS | A>B | 1 | (50) |
| 8 | Yamamoto et al. | 2003 | RA | Parallel | 170 | A: drug + acupuncture point | B: iv (drug) | I year | AIMS-2, ACR | A>B | 0 | (51) |
| 9 | Kitsukawa | 2002 | RA | Parallel | 49 | A: drug + acupuncture point (moxibustion) | B: iv (drug) | 6 | VAS, mHAQ | A>B | 1 | (52) |
| 11 | Kasuya | 2002 | RA | Parallel | 20 | A: drug + acupuncture point | B: iv (drug) | I year | VAS, AIMS-2, ACR | A>B | 0 | (53) |
| 12 | Kasuya and Etoh | 2004 | RA | Parallel | 178 | A: drug + acupuncture point | B: iv (drug) | I year | VAS, AIMS-2, ACR | A>B | 1 | (54) |
| 13 | Kasuya et al. | 2004 | RA | Parallel | 170 | A: drug + acupuncture point | B: iv (drug) | I year | VAS, AIMS-2, ACR | A>B | 1 | (55) |
| 14 | Furuya et al. | 2002 | Katakori | RCT | 53 | A: tender point (intradermal needle) | B: ii (placebo) | 1 | VAS | A>B | 4 | (56) |
| 15 | Nabeta et al. | 1997 | Katakori | Parallel | 32 | A: acupuncture point | B: iii (sham) | 3 | VAS | A>B | 3 | (57) |
| 16 | Kitade et al. | 1995 | Katakori | Parallel | 59 | A: acupuncture point | B: iv (nerve block) | 3 month | Category | A>B | 0 | (58) |
| 17 | Itoh et al. | 2006 | Katakori | Parallel | 30 | A: trigger point | B: v (acupuncture point), C: ii (placebo) | 4 | VAS | A>B=C | 3 | (59) |
| 18 | Yamaguchi | 1987 | Chronic headache | Parallel | 10 | A: acupuncture point | B: i (volunteers) | 10 | Pulse waves | A>B | 1 | (60) |
| 19 | Yamaguchi | 1987 | Chronic headache | Parallel | 16 | A: acupuncture point | B: i (volunteers) | 10 | EMG | A>B | 1 | (61) |
| 20 | Mustura | 1976 | Chronic headache | Parallel | 12 | A: honchiho | B: v (honchiho + hyouchiho) | 7 | Category | A=B | 0 | (62) |
| 21 | Kitade and Hyodo | 1994 | Chronic pain | Parallel | 1247 | A: acupuncture point | B: iv (nerve block), C: iv (acupuncture and block) | Category | A<B<C | 0 | (63) | |
| 22 | Itoh et al. | 2003 | Fibromyalgia | Crossover | 1 | A: acupuncture point (EA) | B: v (TCM) | 14 | VAS, PPT | A>B | 1 | (64) |
| 23 | Itoh et al. | 2004 | Fibromyalgia | Crossover | 4 | A: acupuncture point (EA) | B: v (TCM) | 11 | VAS, PDAS | A>B | 1 | (65) |
| 24 | Itoh | 2005 | Fibromyalgia | Crossover | 1 | A: TMC | B: v (tender point) | 5 | VAS, PPT | A>B | 1 | (66) |
RCT, randomized controlled trials; EA, electroacupuncture; TCM, traditional Chinese medicine; VAS, visual analog scale; PDAS, pain disability assessment scale; RDQ, Roland–Morris disability questionnaire; AIMS-2, Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales Version2; ACR, American College of Rheumatology core set variables; mHAQ, modified Health Assessment Questionnaire; PPT, pressure pain thresholds (i) waiting lists; (ii) physiologically inert controls, e.g. sham TENS, sugar pills, placebo acupuncture; (iii) sham acupuncture; (iv) standard medical care, e.g. drug therapy or physiotherapy; (v) other acupuncture method. Hyouchiho refers to local or symptomatic treatment and honchiho to causal or essential treatment. Acupuncture point, there is no description on concept of treatment.