Table 1. Strength of evidence for acupuncture as a treatment for common conditions.
| Key Clinical Recommendation on Acupuncture* | Evidence Rating |
References |
|---|---|---|
| Low Back Pain: Effective | A | 49-52 |
| Knee / Hip Osteoarthritis: Effective | A | 35, 53, 55-58 |
| Headaches: Effective | A | 59-63 |
| Neck pain: Effective | A | 45-46, 64-66 |
*
Effective is determined by a comparison between acupuncture and routine care or enhanced medical care. In most studies, the specific effect of acupuncture needling against placebo/sham acupuncture is small and findings are inconsistent.