Comparison 5. Acupuncture vs. sham acupuncture for peripheral joint OA change from baseline analysis.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Pain (Time point equal to or less than three months and closest to eight weeks post‐randomization)	9	1835	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.28 [‐0.45, ‐0.11]
2 Function (Time point equal to or less than three months and closest to eight weeks post‐randomization)	9	1829	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.28 [‐0.46, ‐0.09]
3 Total score (Time point equal to or less than three months and closest to eight weeks post‐randomization)	8	1767	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.29 [‐0.50, ‐0.09]
4 Pain (26 weeks after baseline)	4	1399	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.10 [‐0.21, 0.01]
5 Function (26 weeks after baseline)	4	1398	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.11 [‐0.22, 0.00]
6 Total score (26 weeks after baseline)	4	1398	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.11 [‐0.22, ‐0.00]