Table 3.
Summary of assessments, assessment times, and outcomes in the included articles.
| Author (years) | Assessments | Assessment times | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardoso et al. (2020) [17] | VAS, PPT | Pre-post acupuncture, day 1 | Significant decrease in VAS at postacupuncture among the groups∗ |
| Benito-de-Pedro et al. (2020) [18] | PPT, thermographic measurement | Pre-post acupuncture | Improved PPT at postacupuncture∗ A significant difference in PPT between the groups |
| Fleckenstein et al. (2016) [19] | VAS, PPT, muscle strength | Preacupuncture, days 1, 2, and 3 | No significant differences in all assessments at days 1–3 among the groups |
| Martín-Pintado-Zugasti et al. (2017) [20] | VAS, psychological measure | Postacupuncture, days 0.5, 1, and 2 | Significant decrease in VAS over time among the groups∗ |
| Yang (2016) [21] | VAS | Postacupuncture, day 1 | Significant differences in VAS between the groups∗ |
| Paulson and Shay (2013) [22] | Sympathetic nervous system responses | Pre-post acupuncture | Increased skin conductance and decreased skin temperature at postacupuncture∗ |
| Itoh et al. (2011) [23] | PPT | Pre-post acupuncture, day 2 | Increased PPT at postacupuncture and day 2∗ |
| Wang (2009) [24] | Serum creatine kinase, testosterone | Pre-post treatment session | Increased level of serum creatine kinase at posttreatment session No significant differences in testosterone level between the groups |
| Itoh et al. (2008) [25] | VAS | Pre-post acupuncture, days 1, 2, 3, and 7 | Decreased VAS at postacupuncture∗ A significant decrease in VAS at day 3 among the groups∗ |
| Hübscher et al. (2008) [26] | VAS, PPT, muscle strength | Pre-post acupuncture, days 1, 2, and 3 | Decreased VAS and increased PPT and muscle strength at days 2-3 A significant decrease in VAS at day 3 among the groups∗ |
| Li and Zhai (2006) [27] | Luteinizing hormone, testosterone, cortisol | Pre-post treatment session | No significant differences in levels of luteinizing hormone, testosterone, and cortisol between the groups |
| Barlas et al. (2000) [28] | VAS, PPT, joint range of motion | Pre-post acupuncture, days 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 | A significant decrease in VAS at days 1–5 among the groups∗ |
| Lin and Yang (1999) [29] | PPT, serum creatine kinase | Preacupuncture, days 1, 2, and 3 | A significant decrease in VAS at day 3 among the groups∗ |
| Xiang et al. (1998) [30] | Serum creatine kinase | Pre-post treatment session | Decreased levels of serum creatine kinase at postacupuncture∗ |
| Jui (1994) [31] | PPT, muscle strength, serum creatine kinase | Preacupuncture, days 1, 2, and 3 | A significant improvement in muscle strength at day 3 and in PPT at day 2 between the groups∗ No significant differences in the levels of serum creatine kinase between the groups |
∗ P < 0.05, comparison between group differences.