Table 3.
Adverse Events (N=78) and Withdrawals (32) Reported during Trial*
| Adverse Events | True Acupuncture | Non-penetrating Acupuncture |
|---|---|---|
| Agitation | 2 | 0 |
| Bruising | 1 | 1 |
| Fatigue | 1 | 1 |
| Increased Pain | 22 | 16 |
| Redness/Infection | 1 | 0 |
| Muscle Soreness | 6 | 2 |
| Swelling | 6 | 5 |
| Tearfulness | 0 | 1 |
| Weakness | 1 | 0 |
| Other | 7 | 5 |
|
| ||
| Total | 47 | 31 |
| Withdrawals | True Acupuncture | Non-penetrating Acupuncture |
|---|---|---|
| Loss to follow-up | 8 | 7 |
| Adverse events | 3 | 0 |
| Protocol violations | 2 | 2 |
| Patient withdrew | 4 | 6 |
|
| ||
| Total | 17 | 15 |
*
Since acupuncture is conducted in the same setting of Exercise-based physical therapy (EPT), whether such side effect relates to acupuncture or EPT may be difficult to assess.