Table 2.
Details of acupuncture treatment and control interventions of studies included in the meta-analysis.
| Study ID | Acupuncture rationale | Details of needling | Treatment regimen | Control interventions (drug/dosage/frequency) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points used | Depth of insertion/response sought | Needle stimulation | Needle type/retention time | No. TS | Frequency | |||
| Zhan and Liang, 1993 [10] | TCM | Shenshu (BL 23), Zhishi (BL 53), Zhibian (BL 54), Huantiao (GB 30), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Xuanzong (GB 39), Qiuxu (GB 40), Taichong (LR 3), and Fengfu (GV 16) | NA/NA | Manual | Number 30 needles (Hua Tuo card)/20 min | 40 | NA | Prednisone, Vit B1, Piroxicam (taken orally)/NA/NA |
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| Chen et al., 2007 [12] | TCM | Shenshu (BL 23), Dachangshu (BL 25), Huantiao (GB 30), Weizhong (BL 40), and Kunlun (BL 60) | NA/De qi | Manual | 0.30 × 60–75 mm/5~30 min | 10 | Once a day, 10 times/course, and 3 days' rest after a course | C1: Nimesulide (taken orally)/0.10 g/bid C2: 654-2 injection (i.m.)/2 mg per acupoint/<10 mg/qd 10 times per course, 3 days' rest after a course |
|
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| Dong et al., 2008 [15] | TCM | Huantiao (GB 30) | NA/Gaing of qi | Manual | 0.3 mm × 4-inch unused sterile needles (Ruiqi Er brand)/30 min | 15 | Once a day, 15 times/course | Ibuprofen Sustained Release Capsules (taken orally)/300 mg/bid 15 times per course |
|
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| Chen, 2010 [16] | TCM | Jiaji (L2–4) (EX-B2), Zhibian (BL 54), Huantiao (GB 30), Weizhong (BL 40), Chengshan (BL 57), Xuanzhong (GB 39), Kunlun (BL 60), Yinmen (BL 37), and Ashi point | 2 inches for the points Zhibian and Yanglingquan, 3~4 inches for the point Huantiao; 1.5 inches for the points Yinmen, Weizhong, and Chengshan/muscle twitch | Electrical | 0.30 × 25–40 mm/30 min | 6 | Three times per week, two weeks per course | Ibuprofen (taken orally)/0.2 g/tid; Prednisone (taken orally)/30 mg/tid 7 times per course |
|
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| Zhu et al., 2011 [11] | TCM | Huantiao (GB 30), Juliao (GB 29), Weizhong (BL 40), and Chengshan (BL 57) | NA/Huantiao: Gaing of qi to toes | Electrical | NA/30 min | 6 | Once a day, 6 times/course, and 3 days' rest after a course | Ibuprofen (taken orally)/300 mg/bid; Vit B1 injection (i.m.)/100 mg/qd; Vit B12 injection (i.m.)/0.25 mg/qd 6 times per course, 3 days' rest after a course |
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| Zhang, 2012 [17] | TCM | Posterior limb of lower limbs or back pain: Dachangshu (BL 25), Chengshan (BL 57), Huantiao (GB 30), and Weizhong (BL 40); lateral of lower limbs or buttocks pain: Huantiao (GB 30), Xuanzhong (GB 39), Yanglingquan (GB 34), and Fenglong (ST 40); all pain referred to above: Dachangshu (BL 25), Huantiao (GB 30), Zhibian (BL 54), Kunlun (BL 60), and Yanglingquan (GB 34) | NA/De qi | Manual | NA/30 min | 6 | Once a day, six times per week | Ibuprofen (taken orally)/0.6 g/tid; Prednisone/10 mg/tid 7 times per course, 2 days' rest after a course |
|
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| Zhai, 2012 [18] | TCM | Dachangshu (BL 25), Shenshu (BL 23), Huantiao (GB 30), Weizhong (BL 40), and Kunlun (BL 60) | NA/De qi | Manual | 0.30 × 60–75 mm/15~30 min | 10 | Once a day, 10 times/course, and 3 days' rest after a course | Nimesulide (taken orally)/0.10 g/bid 10 times per course, 3 days' rest after a course |
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| Liu, 2012 [19] | TCM | Shenshu (BL 23), Dachangshu (BL 25), Huantiao (GB 30), Weizhong (BL 40), and Kunlun (BL 60) | NA/De qi | Manual | 0.30 × 60–75 mm/NA | 10 | Once a day, 10 times/course, and 3 days' rest after a course | C1: Nimesulide (taken orally)/0.10 g/bid C2: 654-2 injection (i.m.)/2 mg per acupoint/<10 mg/qd 10 times per course, 3 days' rest after a course |
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| Qiu, 2013 [5] | TCM | Lateral leg or buttocks pain: Xuanzhong (GB 39), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Huantiao (GB 30), and Fenglong (ST 40); back or posterior limb of lower limbs pain: Dachangshu (BL 25), Chengshan (BL 57), Huantiao (GB 30), and Weizhong (BL 40); all pain referred to above: Zhibian (BL 54), Kunlun (BL 60), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Dachangshu (BL 25), and Huantiao (GB 30) | NA/De qi | Manual | Number 26 6-inch long needles/30 min | 10~12 | Once a day, 5~6 times per week, and two weeks per course | Indomethacin (taken orally)/30 mg/bid; Vit B12 (i.m.)/500 u/qd |
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| Huang, 2014 [20] | TCM | Lateral of lower limbs or buttocks pain: Yanglingquan (GB 34), Xuanzhong (GB 39), and Fenglong (ST 40); posterior limb of lower limbs or back pain: Chengshan (BL 57), Dachangshu (BL 25), and Huantiao (GB 30); all pain referred to above: Yanglingquan (GB 34), Zhibian (BL 54), Kunlun (BL 60), and Huantiao (GB 30) | NA/NA | Manual | NA/30 min | 6 | Once a day, six times per week | Ibuprofen (taken orally)/0.6 g/tid; Prednisone (taken orally)/10 mg/tid 7 times per course, 2 days' rest after a course |
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| ||||||||
| Wang, 2014 [21] | TCM | Main points: Zhibian (BL 54), Huantiao (GB 30), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Juliao (GB 29), Kunlun (BL 60), Chengshan (BL 57), and Xuanzhong (GB 39) Optional points: damp-heat syndrome: Yinlingquan (SP 9), Pishu (BL 20); cold-dampness syndrome: Yaoyangguan (GV 3), Shenshu (BL 23); blood stasis syndrome: Weizhong (BL 40), Ciliao (BL 32); deficiency of both qi and blood: Geshu (BL 17), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), and Zusanli (ST 36) |
NA/De qi | Electrical | NA/30 min | 10 | Once a day, 10 times/course, and 5 days' rest after a course | Nimesulide (taken orally)/0.10 g/bid 10 times per course, 3 days' rest after a course |
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| Ye et al., 2015 [22] | TCM | Jiaji (L4-5) (EX-B2), Jiaji (L5-S5) (EX-B2), Zhibian (BL 54), and Huantiao (GB 30) | NA/De qi | Electrical | NA/30 min | 6 | Two times per week, for three weeks | Diclofenac Diethylamine gel (external use)/4 g four times per day, three weeks |
C: Control group; NA: not available; TCM: traditional Chinese medicine; No. TS: number of treatment sessions.
i.m.: intramuscular route; qd: once a day; bid: twice a day; tid: three times a day.