Table 3.
Summary effect estimates for acupuncture
| Outcome or subgroup | Studies | Participants | Statistical method | Effect estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Acupuncture versus no treatment or waiting list control | ||||
| 5.1 Pain | 1 | 214 | Mean difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | −24.10 [−31.52, −16.68] |
| 5.1.1 Pain at 1 month | 0 | 0 | Mean difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | Not estimable |
| 5.1.2 Pain at 3 months | 1 | 214 | Mean difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | −24.10 [−31.52, −16.68] |
| 5.1.3 Pain at 6 months | 0 | 0 | Mean difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | Not estimable |
| 5.1.4 Pain at 12 months | 0 | 0 | Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | Not estimable |
| 5.2 Disability | 1 | 214 | Standard mean difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | −0.61 [−0.90, −0.33] |
| 5.2.1 Disability at 1 month | 0 | 0 | Standard mean difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | Not estimable |
| 5.2.2 Disability at 3 months | 1 | 214 | Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | −0.61 [−0.90, −0.33] |
| 5.2.3 Disability at 6 months | 0 | 0 | Standard mean difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | Not estimable |
| 5.2.4 Disability at 12 months | 0 | 0 | Standard mean difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | Not estimable |
| 5.3 Recovery | 0 | 0 | Risk ratio (M-H, Random, 95% CI) | Not estimable |
| 6 Acupuncture versus sham/placebo/passive modalities | ||||
| 6.1 Pain | 6 | Mean difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | Subtotals only | |
| 6.1.1 Pain at 1 month | 4 | 918 | Mean difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | −5.88 [−11.20, −0.55] |
| 6.1.2 Pain at 3 months | 4 | 1076 | Mean difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | −7.27 [−12.66, −1.89] |
| 6.1.3 Pain at 6 months | 3 | 989 | Mean difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | −3.26 [−6.28, −0.23] |
| 6.1.4 Pain at 12 months | 2 | 290 | Mean difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | −4.74 [−10.50, 1.02] |
| 6.2 Disability | 3 | Standard mean difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | Subtotals only | |
| 6.2.1 Disability at 1 month | 1 | 745 | Standard mean difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | −0.18 [−0.32, −0.04] |
| 6.2.2 Disability at 3 months | 3 | 1044 | Standard mean difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | −0.28 [−0.41, −0.16] |
| 6.2.3 Disability at 6 months | 2 | 962 | Standard mean difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | −0.27 [−0.40, −0.15] |
| 6.2.4 Disability at 12 months | 2 | 290 | Standard mean difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | −0.22 [−0.46, 0.03] |
| 6.3 Recovery | 2 | Risk ratio (M-H, Random, 95% CI) | Subtotals only | |
| 6.3.1 Recovery at 1 month | 2 | 90 | Risk ratio (M-H, Random, 95% CI) | 1.92 [0.41, 9.09] |
| 6.3.2 Recovery at 3 months | 1 | 50 | Risk ratio (M-H, Random, 95% CI) | 3.53 [0.91, 13.62] |
| 6.3.3 Recovery at 6 months | 2 | 83 | Risk ratio (M-H, Random, 95% CI) | 1.82 [0.72, 4.61] |
| 6.3.4 Recovery at 12 months | 0 | 0 | Risk ratio (M-H, Random, 95% CI) | Not estimable |
| 7 Acupuncture + intervention versus intervention alone | ||||
| 7.1 Pain | 3 | Mean difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | Subtotals only | |
| 7.1.1 Pain at 1 month | 2 | 99 | Mean difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | −9.80 [−14.93, −4.67] |
| 7.1.2 Pain at 3 months | 3 | 185 | Mean difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | −16.91 [−25.18, −8.64] |
| 7.1.3 Pain at 6 months | 0 | 0 | Mean difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | Not estimable |
| 7.1.4 Pain at 12 months | 1 | 86 | Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | −14.00 [−21.83, −6.17] |
| 7.2 Disability | 4 | Standard mean difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | Subtotals only | |
| 7.2.1 Disability at 1 month | 2 | 99 | Standard mean difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | −1.04 [−1.46, −0.61] |
| 7.2.2 Disability at 3 months | 4 | 2824 | Standard mean difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | −0.66 [−0.74, −0.58] |
| 7.2.3 Disability at 6 months | 0 | 0 | Standard mean difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | Not estimable |
| 7.2.4 Disability at 12 months | 1 | 131 | Standard mean difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | −0.28 [−0.66, 0.09] |
| 7.3 Recovery | 1 | Risk ratio (M-H, Random, 95% CI) | Subtotals only | |
| 7.3.1 at 1 month | 0 | 0 | Risk ratio (M-H, Random, 95% CI) | Not estimable |
| 7.3.2 at 3 months | 1 | 56 | Risk ratio (M-H, Random, 95% CI) | 5.90 [1.96, 17.70] |
| 7.3.3 at 6 months | 0 | 0 | Risk ratio (M-H, Random, 95% CI) | Not estimable |
| 7.3.4 at 12 months | 0 | 0 | Risk ratio (M-H, Random, 95% CI) | Not estimable |
| 8 Acupuncture versus any other intervention | ||||
| 8.1 Pain | 1 | Mean difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | Subtotals only | |
| 8.1.1 Pain at 1 month | 1 | 731 | Mean difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | −8.50 [−11.04, −5.96] |
| 8.1.2 Pain at 3 months | 1 | 734 | Mean difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | −9.40 [−12.13, −6.67] |
| 8.1.3 Pain at 6 months | 1 | 741 | Mean difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | −12.10 [−15.25, −8.95] |
| 8.1.4 Pain at 12 months | 0 | 0 | Mean difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | Not estimable |
| 8.2 Disability | 1 | Standard mean difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | Subtotals only | |
| 8.2.1 Disability at 1 month | 1 | 731 | Standard mean difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | −0.53 [−0.67, −0.38] |
| 8.2.2 Disability at 3 months | 1 | 734 | Standard mean difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | −0.64 [−0.79, −0.49] |
| 8.2.3 Disability at 6 months | 1 | 741 | Standard mean difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | −0.76 [−0.91, −0.61] |
| 8.2.4 Disability at 12 months | 0 | 0 | Standard mean difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | Not estimable |
| 8.3 Recovery | 0 | 0 | Risk ratio (M-H, Random, 95% CI) | Not estimable |