Table 3.
Outcomes of randomized controlled trials comparing acupuncture and conventional therapy
|
Studies |
Intervention and number of subjects |
Outcome measurement |
Outcomes** |
Treatment effect |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Treatment group | Control group | Treatment group | Control group | ||||
| Chen (2010) [30] |
Acupuncture N = 33 |
Triamcinolone acetonide injection N = 33 |
Pain relief and grip strength: cured rate based on subjective report |
30/33 Cured Cured rate: 92.4% |
14/33 Cured Cured rate: 42.4% |
RR (95% CI) 2.14 (1.42 to 3.23) P = 0.0003* |
|
| Davidson (2001) [18] |
Acupuncture N = 8 |
Pulsated ultrasound N = 8 |
Pain-free grip strength: mean ± SD |
At first treatment: 10.25 ± 5.84 |
At first treatment: 6.08 ± 4.19 |
MD (95% CI) 4.17 (−0.81 to 9.15), P = 0.10. |
|
| |
|
|
At last treatment: 14.09 ± 9.53 |
At last treatment: 11.96 ± 12.28 |
2.13 (−8.64 to 12.90), P = 0.70 |
||
| |
|
Pain Score (VAS): mean ± SD |
At first treatment: 39.63 ± 29.51 |
At first treatment: 46.50 ± 26.91 |
−6.81 (−34.48 to 20.86), P = 0.63 |
||
| |
|
|
At last treatment: 13.63 ± 13.79 |
At last treatment: 32.69 ± 29.21 |
−19.06 (−41.44 to 3.32), P = 0.10 |
||
| |
|
DASH score: mean ± SD |
At first treatment: 36.35 ± 25.54 |
At first treatment: 38.02 ± 15.24 |
−1.67 (−22.28 to 18.94), P = 0.87 |
||
| |
|
|
At last treatment: 23.75 ± 17.73 |
At last treatment: 33.23 ± 24.06 |
−9.48 (−30.19 to 11.23), P = 0.37 |
||
| |
|
|
At 4 week FU: 23.75 ± 18.41 |
At 4 week FU: 22.40 ± 18.73 |
1.35 (−16.85 to 19.55), P = 0.88 |
||
| Grua (1999) [19] |
Acupuncture N = 20 |
Pulsated ultrasound, massage N = 20 |
Maigne functional recovery test: mean ± SD |
At first visit: 15.0 ± 2.36 |
At first visit: 15.0 ± 2.70 |
MD (95% CI) 0.00 (−1.57 to 1.57), P = 1.00 |
|
| |
At last treatment: 5.80 ± 3.37 |
At last treatment: 9.80 ± 3.65 |
−4.00 (−6.18 to −1.82), P = 0.0003* |
||||
| |
|
|
At 6 months FU: 5.20 ± 3.64 |
At 6 months FU: 10.0 ± 3.45 |
−4.80 (−7.00 to −2.60, P < 0.0001* |
||
| |
|
Pain Score(VAS): mean ± SD |
At first visit: 7.05 ± 1.47 |
At first visit: 7.05 ± 1.39 |
0.00 (−0.89 to 0.89), P = 1.00 |
||
| |
|
|
At last treatment: 2.85 ± 1.81 |
At last treatment: 4.49 ± 1.64 |
−1.64 (−2.71 to −0.57), P = 0.003* |
||
| |
|
|
At 6 months FU: 2.05 ± 1.39 |
At 6 months FU: 4.90 ± 1.45 |
−2.85 (−3.73 to −1.97), P < 0.00001* |
||
| Lin (2011) [21] |
Acupuncture N = 36 |
Prednisolone injection N = 36 |
Pain relief: VAS, cured rate based on subjective report |
20/36 Cured Cured rate: 55.5% |
13/36 Cured Cured rate: 36.1% |
RR (95% CI) 1.54 (0.91 to 2.60) P = 0.11 |
|
| Shen (1999) [20] |
Electro-acupuncture N = 41 |
Prednisolone injection N = 20 |
Pain relief and range of movement: cured rate based on subjective report |
32/41 Cured Cured rate: 78% |
7/20 Cured Cured rate: 35% |
RR (95% CI) 2.23 (1.20 to 4.14) P = 0.01* |
|
| Zha (2004) [31] |
Acupuncture N = 57 |
Hydrocortisone injection N = 60 |
Pain relief and range of movement: cured rate based on ADL score |
8/57 Cured Cured rate: 14.03% |
6/60 Cured Cured rate: 10% |
RR (95% CI) 1.40 (0.52 to 3.80) P = 0.5 |
|
| Zhang (2007) [32] | Acupuncture N = 36 |
Meloxicam tablets N = 32 |
Pain relief and range of movement: cured rate based on subjective report | 26/36 Cured Cured rate: 72.2% |
15/32 Cured Cured rate: 46.9% |
RR (95% CI) 1.54 (1.01 to 2.34) P = 0.04* |
|
*: P < 0.05 statistically significant difference between two groups. **: Outcomes were measured at the end of last treatment, except for those specifically mentioned.
ADL, Activities of daily living scale; 95% CI, 95% Confidence Interval; DASH score, Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score; FU, follow-up; RR, Relative Risk; SD, Standard Deviation; MD, Mean Difference; VAS, Visual Analogue Rating Scale.