Table 4.
Outcomes of randomized controlled trials comparing moxibustion and conventional therapy
|
Studies |
Intervention and number of subjects |
Outcome measurement |
Outcomes** (Cured no./Total no., Cured rate) |
Treatment effect |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Treatment group | Control group | Treatment group | Control group | Cured rate: RR (95% CI) | ||
| Jin (2005) [33] |
Ginger- moxibustion |
Prednisolone injection |
Pain relief and range of movement: cured rate based on ADL score |
59/80 |
17/32 |
1.39 (0.98 to 1.97) |
| N = 80 |
N = 32 |
73.8% |
53.1% |
P = 0.07 |
||
| |
||||||
| Li (2007) [22] |
Ginger- moxibustion |
Prednisone injection |
Pain relief and grip strength: cured rate based on subjective report |
20/25 |
21/25 |
0.95 (0.73 to 1.24) |
| N = 25 |
N = 25 |
80% |
84% |
P = 0.71 |
||
| |
||||||
| Xu (2010) [29] | Ginger- moxibustion |
Prednisone injection |
Pain relief and grip strength: cured rate based on subjective report | 11/23 |
4/22 |
2.63 (0.98 to 7.04) |
| N = 23 | N = 22 | 47.8% | 18.2% | P = 0.05 | ||
**: 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; RR, Relative Risk.