Table 2.

Characteristics of the included studies.

First author	Sample size (observation/control)	Dropout rate	Intervention (in the observation group)	Intervention (in the control group)	Course of treatment	The main outcomes
Irnich et al. [16]	50 (25/25)	None	Verum acupuncture: LI 4, LI 10, SJ 5, SI 3, GB 34	Sham acupuncture: points: one thumb, with away from those used in the observation group	3 treatments within 10 days	Pressure pain threshold (PPT) Pain-free grip strength (GS) NRS (same to VAS, assessment on pain on 0–10 scale) All assessments after treatments and 14-day follow-up
Fink et al. [17]	45 (23/22)	3 at 2-week and 2 more at 2-month follow-up	Verum acupuncture: LI 10, LI 11, Lu 5, LI 4, SJ 5, one A-Shi point	Sham acupuncture: points: 5 cm away from the points used in the observation group	10 treatments 2 times/week within 5 weeks	Pain reduction percentage VAS (pain assessed at rest, in motion, during exertion, and frequency on 0–5 scale) Functional impairment assessed with DASH questionnaire All assessments after treatments and 2-month follow-up
Molsberger and Hille [15]	48 (24/24)	None	Verum acupuncture: GB 34 (on ipsilateral leg)	Sham acupuncture: (stimulation with pencil-like probe to simulate needle insertion) Acupuncture point UB 13	1 treatment	Clinical efficacy rate VAS (pain assessed on 0–10 scale) Pain relief score
Haker and Lundeberg [18]	82 (44/38)	4 after 10th treatment Another 5 at 3 months	Verum acupuncture: LI 10, LI 11, LI 12, Lu 5, SJ 10	Sham acupuncture: same acupoints but superficial needle insertion	10 treatments in all 2-3 times/week	Clinical efficacy rate, the vigorimeter test Assessments after treatments, at 3-month and 1-year follow-up
Liao Leshan [19]	60 (30/30)	None	Acupuncture therapy: LI10, SJ 5, LI 4, LI 12 (affected side), once a day, 2 weeks	Blocking therapy: local injection of 0.5 ml triamcinolone acetate A injection plus 3 ml lidocaine, once a week, 2 weeks	10 treatments in the observation group 3 treatments in the control group	Clinical efficacy rate
Zhang Xiaoyang and Huang [20]	60 (30/30)	None	Acupuncture therapy: LI11, LI10, LI13, LI 1, Ah-Shi, LI3 once every other day, 2 weeks	Blocking therapy: local injection of 1% 4 ml lidocaine injection and 1 ml prednisolone at tenderness point and LI11 once for ten days, 2 weeks	10 treatments in the observation group 2 treatments in the control group	Clinical efficacy rate, VAS (pain assessed on 0–10 scale) Elbow joint activity score (rotation function assessed on 0–8 scale) All assessments after first therapy, all treatments and at 1-month follow-up
Min [21]	72 (36/36)	None	Acupuncture therapy: points: the most tenderness point, three points around the tenderness points, and LI11. Once every other day, 2 weeks	Blocking therapy: local injection of 2% 1.5 ml procaine injection and 5 ml prednisolone suspension at tenderness point once for ten days, 2 weeks	10 treatments in the observation group 2 treatments in the control group	Clinical efficacy rate VAS (pain assessed on 0–10 scale) Both assessments after treatments and 2-month follow-up
Hongrui [14]	235 (147/88)	None	Acupuncture therapy: LI4, LI7, LI9, LI10 (affected side) once a day, 3 times a week, 3 weeks	Blocking therapy: local injection of 1% 4 ml lidocaine injection and 50 mg prednisolone at tenderness point, once a week, 3 weeks	9 treatments in the observation group 3 treatments in the control group	Clinical efficacy rate
Yuanli [22]	84 (42/42)	None	Electroacupuncture therapy: cervical Jiaji 5–7 (EX-B2, affected side), SI 11, A-Shi points, LI 11, LI 10, SJ 5 once a day, 5 times a week, 2 weeks	Drug therapy group: oral meloxicam tablets 7.5 mg once a day for 2 weeks	10 treatments in the observation group 14 treatments in the drug group	Clinical efficacy rate VAS (pain assessed on 0–10 scale) Elbow function score scale (function assessed on 0–100 scale)
Hui [13]	60 (30/30)	None	Acupuncture therapy: points: 4 points at 0.5 cm away from the tenderness point at 3, 6, 9, 12 o'clock, once every other day, 2 weeks	Drug therapy group: oral celecoxib capsules 200 mg and external application of votalin ointment twice a day, 2 weeks	7 times in the observation group 28 times in the drug group	Clinical efficacy rate VAS (pain assessed on 0–10 scale) Both assessments after treatments and 3-month follow-up