Table 3.

Details of acupuncture treatment methods.

Study (reference)	Depth of insertion	Deqi	Needle stimulation	Needle retention duration	Number of treatment sessions	Frequency of treatment	Duration
Erden et al., 2017 [31]	0.25–0.3 mm	Y	Twirling every 10 min	30 min	6	0, 1st, 2nd, 6th, 12th, and 18th	18 h
Chang et al., 2019 [32]	NR	NR	Electrical stimulation (30 times per minute)	20 min	NR	1 time every 4 hours	NR
Cui 2006 [33]	NR	NR	NR	20 min	4	2 times everyday	48 h
Xiaoqian 2018 [34]	20–30 mm	Y	NR	30 min	28	1 time everyday	4 w
Shangbo 2016 [35]	25–32.5 mm	Y	NR	30 min	4	2 times everyday	48 h
Hui 2018 [36]	NR	Y	Electrical stimulation (4–20 HZ)	30 min	3	1 time everyday	72 h
Liu and Zhang 2013 [37]	7.5–40 mm	Y	Twirling 1-2 times per 30 min	20–30 min	3	1 time everyday	72 h
Shen 2017 [38]	NR	Y	NR	20–30 min	3–6	1–2 times everyday	72 h
Shen 2014 [39]	7.5–40 mm	Y	Twirling every 5 min	20–30 min	3	1 time everyday	72 h
Jing 2017 [40]	NR	NR	Electrical stimulation (10 HZ)	30 min	<5	1 time everyday	<120 h
Wang 2016 [41]	40 mm	NR	Electrical stimulation (2 HZ)	30 min	2	2 times everyday	24 h
Xiaobing and Jiahe 2018 [42]	40 mm	Y	Twirling every 30 min	30 min	NR	NR	4 w
Xiao 2012 [43]	NR	NR	NR	10–15 min	9	3 times everyday	72 h
Yang and Liu 2008 [44]	NR	Y	Electrical stimulation (30 times per minute)	20 min	NR	1 time every 4 hours	NR

Notes: NR: not recorded; Y: yes.