Important Articles
STUDIES FIND ACUPUNCTURE CUTS POST-SURGICAL PAIN
Tue Oct 16, 2007 5:35pm EDT
By Will Dunham
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The use of acupuncture before and during surgery reduces patients' post-operative pain as well as the need for pain-killing medication, researchers said on Tuesday.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina analyzed the results of 15 clinical trials on the effectiveness of acupuncture -- a practice that originated in China of inserting thin needles into specific body points.
They concluded that it is valuable for pain control in surgery patients.
The 15 trials showed that patients getting acupuncture before or during various types of operations had significantly less pain afterward than patients who did not get acupuncture. Read the complete story . . .
Tue Oct 16, 2007 5:35pm EDT
By Will Dunham
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The use of acupuncture before and during surgery reduces patients' post-operative pain as well as the need for pain-killing medication, researchers said on Tuesday.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina analyzed the results of 15 clinical trials on the effectiveness of acupuncture -- a practice that originated in China of inserting thin needles into specific body points.
They concluded that it is valuable for pain control in surgery patients.
The 15 trials showed that patients getting acupuncture before or during various types of operations had significantly less pain afterward than patients who did not get acupuncture. Read the complete story . . .
ACUPUNCTURE
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this NIH Consensus Statement is to inform the biomedical research and clinical practice communities of the results of the NIH Consensus Development Conference on Acupuncture. The statement provides state-of-the-art information regarding the appropriate use of acupuncture, and presents the conclusions and recommendations of the consensus panel regarding these issues. In addition, the statement identifies those areas of study that deserve further investigation. Upon completion, the reader should possess a clear working clinical knowledge of the state-of-the-art regarding this topic. The target audience of physicians for this statement includes, but is not limited to, family practitioners, medical acupuncturists, psychiatrists, and specialists in pain medicine.
PARTICIPANTS: A non-Federal, nonadvocate, 12-member panel representing the fields of acupuncture, pain, psychology, psychiatry, physical medicine and rehabilitation, drug abuse, family practice, internal medicine, health policy, epidemiology, statistics, physiology, biophysics, and the public. In addition, 25 experts from these same fields presented data to the panel and a conference audience of 1,200.
EVIDENCE: The literature was searched through Medline, and an extensive bibliography of references was provided to the panel and the conference audience. Experts prepared abstracts with relevant citations from the literature. Scientific evidence was given precedence over clinical anecdotal experience.
CONSENSUS PROCESS: The panel, answering predefined questions, developed their conclusions based on the scientific evidence presented in open forum and the scientific literature. The panel composed a draft statement, which was read in its entirety and circulated to the experts and the audience for comment. Thereafter, the panel resolved conflicting recommendations and released a revised statement at the end of the conference. The panel finalized the revisions within a few weeks after the conference. The draft statement was made available on the World Wide Web immediately following its release at the conference and was updated with the panel's final revisions.
CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture as a therapeutic intervention is widely practiced in the United States. While there have been many studies of its potential usefulness, many of these studies provide equivocal results because of design, sample size, and other factors. The issue is further complicated by inherent difficulties in the use of appropriate controls, such as placebos and sham acupuncture groups. However, promising results have emerged, for example, showing efficacy of acupuncture in adult postoperative and chemotherapy nausea and vomiting and in postoperative dental pain. There are other situations such as addiction, stroke rehabilitation, headache, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and asthma, in which acupuncture may be useful as an adjunct treatment or an acceptable alternative or be included in a comprehensive management program. Further research is likely to uncover additional areas where acupuncture interventions will be useful.
THE ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT OF NECK PAIN: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED STUDY.
Coan RM, Wong G, Coan PL.
Thirty patients with cervical spine pain syndromes persisting a mean of 8 years were assigned randomly into equal treatment and control groups. After 12 weeks, 12 of 15 (80%) of the treated group felt improved, some dramatically, with a mean 40% reduction of pain score, 54% reduction of pain pills, 68% reduction of pain hours per day and 32% less limitation of activity. Two of 15 (13%) of the control group reported slight improvement after 12.8 weeks. The control group had a mean 2% worsening of the pain score, 10% reduction in pain pills, no lessening of pain hours and 12% less limitation of activity.
RANDOMISED TRIAL OF ACUPUNCTURE COMPARED WITH CONVENTIONAL MASSAGE AND "SHAM" LASER ACUPUNCTURE FOR TREATMENT OF CHRONIC NECK PAIN - RANGE OF MOTION ANALYSIS
König A, Radke S, Molzen H, Haase M, Müller C, Drexler D, Natalis M, Krauss M, Behrens N, Irnich D.
Orthopädische Klinik, Klinik am Eichert, Göppingen, Germany. [email protected]
AIM: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of acupuncture on active motion of the cervical spine in patients with chronic neck pain with those of "sham" laser acupuncture and massage.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: 177 patients with chronic neck pain were included in this prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study. The patients were allocated by external randomization to five treatments over three weeks with acupuncture, massage and "sham" laser acupuncture. The range of active motion was measured by means of a 3D ultrasound real time motion analyzer.
RESULTS: The analysis of cervical motion in three directions showed the largest increase in range of motion 14 days after acupuncture. Compared to massage, a significant improvement in total range of motion was seen in those patients treated by acupuncture immediately (p = 0,03) and one week (p = 0,03) weeks after therapy. There was no significant difference in those patients treated by sham laser acupuncture.
CONCLUSION: The results of the study indicate that acupuncture is superior to conventional massage for improving active range of motion in patients with chronic neck pain. Because of its positive effects, its acceptance among patients and the lack of severe side effects, acupuncture can be recommended for the treatment of chronic neck pain, although there was no significant difference in results between "sham" laser acupuncture and acupuncture.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this NIH Consensus Statement is to inform the biomedical research and clinical practice communities of the results of the NIH Consensus Development Conference on Acupuncture. The statement provides state-of-the-art information regarding the appropriate use of acupuncture, and presents the conclusions and recommendations of the consensus panel regarding these issues. In addition, the statement identifies those areas of study that deserve further investigation. Upon completion, the reader should possess a clear working clinical knowledge of the state-of-the-art regarding this topic. The target audience of physicians for this statement includes, but is not limited to, family practitioners, medical acupuncturists, psychiatrists, and specialists in pain medicine.
PARTICIPANTS: A non-Federal, nonadvocate, 12-member panel representing the fields of acupuncture, pain, psychology, psychiatry, physical medicine and rehabilitation, drug abuse, family practice, internal medicine, health policy, epidemiology, statistics, physiology, biophysics, and the public. In addition, 25 experts from these same fields presented data to the panel and a conference audience of 1,200.
EVIDENCE: The literature was searched through Medline, and an extensive bibliography of references was provided to the panel and the conference audience. Experts prepared abstracts with relevant citations from the literature. Scientific evidence was given precedence over clinical anecdotal experience.
CONSENSUS PROCESS: The panel, answering predefined questions, developed their conclusions based on the scientific evidence presented in open forum and the scientific literature. The panel composed a draft statement, which was read in its entirety and circulated to the experts and the audience for comment. Thereafter, the panel resolved conflicting recommendations and released a revised statement at the end of the conference. The panel finalized the revisions within a few weeks after the conference. The draft statement was made available on the World Wide Web immediately following its release at the conference and was updated with the panel's final revisions.
CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture as a therapeutic intervention is widely practiced in the United States. While there have been many studies of its potential usefulness, many of these studies provide equivocal results because of design, sample size, and other factors. The issue is further complicated by inherent difficulties in the use of appropriate controls, such as placebos and sham acupuncture groups. However, promising results have emerged, for example, showing efficacy of acupuncture in adult postoperative and chemotherapy nausea and vomiting and in postoperative dental pain. There are other situations such as addiction, stroke rehabilitation, headache, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and asthma, in which acupuncture may be useful as an adjunct treatment or an acceptable alternative or be included in a comprehensive management program. Further research is likely to uncover additional areas where acupuncture interventions will be useful.
THE ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT OF NECK PAIN: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED STUDY.
Coan RM, Wong G, Coan PL.
Thirty patients with cervical spine pain syndromes persisting a mean of 8 years were assigned randomly into equal treatment and control groups. After 12 weeks, 12 of 15 (80%) of the treated group felt improved, some dramatically, with a mean 40% reduction of pain score, 54% reduction of pain pills, 68% reduction of pain hours per day and 32% less limitation of activity. Two of 15 (13%) of the control group reported slight improvement after 12.8 weeks. The control group had a mean 2% worsening of the pain score, 10% reduction in pain pills, no lessening of pain hours and 12% less limitation of activity.
RANDOMISED TRIAL OF ACUPUNCTURE COMPARED WITH CONVENTIONAL MASSAGE AND "SHAM" LASER ACUPUNCTURE FOR TREATMENT OF CHRONIC NECK PAIN - RANGE OF MOTION ANALYSIS
König A, Radke S, Molzen H, Haase M, Müller C, Drexler D, Natalis M, Krauss M, Behrens N, Irnich D.
Orthopädische Klinik, Klinik am Eichert, Göppingen, Germany. [email protected]
AIM: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of acupuncture on active motion of the cervical spine in patients with chronic neck pain with those of "sham" laser acupuncture and massage.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: 177 patients with chronic neck pain were included in this prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study. The patients were allocated by external randomization to five treatments over three weeks with acupuncture, massage and "sham" laser acupuncture. The range of active motion was measured by means of a 3D ultrasound real time motion analyzer.
RESULTS: The analysis of cervical motion in three directions showed the largest increase in range of motion 14 days after acupuncture. Compared to massage, a significant improvement in total range of motion was seen in those patients treated by acupuncture immediately (p = 0,03) and one week (p = 0,03) weeks after therapy. There was no significant difference in those patients treated by sham laser acupuncture.
CONCLUSION: The results of the study indicate that acupuncture is superior to conventional massage for improving active range of motion in patients with chronic neck pain. Because of its positive effects, its acceptance among patients and the lack of severe side effects, acupuncture can be recommended for the treatment of chronic neck pain, although there was no significant difference in results between "sham" laser acupuncture and acupuncture.
EFFECT OF ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT ON CHRONIC NECK AND SHOULDER PAIN IN SEDENTARY FEMALE WORKERS:
A 6-MONTH AND 3-YEAR FOLLOW-UP STUDY
He D, Veiersted KB, Høstmark AT, Medbø JI.
Department of General Practice and Community Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway
The study was carried out to examine whether acupuncture treatment can reduce chronic pain in the neck and shoulders and related headache, and also to examine whether possible effects are long-lasting. Therefore, 24 female office workers (47+/-9 years old, mean+/-SD) who had had neck and shoulder pain for 12+/-9 years were randomly assigned to a test group (TG) or a control group (CG). Acupuncture was applied 10 times during 3-4 weeks either at presumed anti-pain acupoints (TG) or at placebo-points (CG). A physician measured the pain threshold (PPT) in the neck and shoulder regions with algometry before the first treatment, and after the last one and six months after the treatments. Questionnaires on muscle pain and headache were answered at the same occasions and again 3 years after the last treatment. The intensity and frequency of pain fell more for TG than for CG (Pb < or = 0.04) during the treatment period. Three years after the treatments TG still reported less pain than before the treatments (Pw < 0.001) contrary to what CG did (Pb < 0.04) The degree of headache fell during the treatment period for both groups, but more for TG than for CG (Pb=0.02) Three years after the treatments the effect still lasted for TG (Pw < 0.01) while the degree of headache for CG was back to the pre-treatment level (Pb < 0.001) PPT of some muscles rose during the treatments for TG and remained higher 6 months after the treatments (Pw < 0.05) which contrasts the situation for CG. Adequate acupuncture treatment may reduce chronic pain in the neck and shoulders and related headache. The effect lasted for 3 years.
DOES ACUPUNCTURE IMPROVE THE ORTHOPEDIC MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN?
A RANDOMIZED, BLINDED, CONTROLLED TRIAL WITH 3 MONTHS FOLLOW UP
Molsberger AF, Mau J, Pawelec DB, Winkler J.
Orthopedic Surgery and Research, Kasernenstr 1b, 40213, Düsseldorf, Germany. [email protected]
This prospective, randomised controlled trial, with three parallel groups, patient and observer blinded for verum and sham acupuncture and a follow up of 3 months raises the question: "Does a combination of acupuncture and conservative orthopedic treatment improve conservative orthopedic treatment in chronic low back pain (LBP). 186 in-patients of a LBP rehabilitation center with a history of LBP >or=6 weeks, VAS >or=50mm, and no pending compensation claims, were selected; for the three random group 4 weeks of treatment was applied. 174 patients met the protocol criteria and reported after treatment, 124 reported after 3 months follow up. Patients were assorted 4 strata: chronic LBP, <or=0.5 years, 0.5-2 years, 2-5 years, >or=5 years. Analysis was by intention to treat. Group 1 (Verum+COT) received 12 treatments of verum acupuncture and conservative orthopedic treatment (COT). Group 2 (Sham+COT) received 12 treatments of non-specific needling and COT. Group 3 (nil+COT) received COT alone. Verum- and Sham acupuncture were blinded against patient and examiner. The primary endpoints were pain reduction >or=50% on VAS 3 months after the end of the treatment protocol. Secondary endpoints were pain reduction >or=50% on VAS and treatment efficacy on a four-point box scale directly after the end of the treatment protocol and treatment efficacy after 3 months. In the whole sample a pain relief of >or=50% on VAS was reported directly after the end of treatment protocol: Verum+COT 65% (95%CI 51-77%), Sham+COT 34% (95%ci 22-49%), nil+COT 43% (95%ci 29-58%) - results are significant for Verum+COT over Sham+COT (P<or=0.02). The results after 3 months are: Verum+COT 77% (95%ci 62-88%), Sham+COT 29% (95%ci 16-46%), nil+Cot 14% (95%ci 4-30%) - effects are significant for Verum+COT over Sham+COT (P<or=0.001) and for Verum+COT over nil+COT (P<0.001). No difference was found in the mobility of the patients nor in the intake of NSAID diclofenac. Our conclusion is that acupuncture can be an important supplement of conservative orthopedic treatment in the management of chronic LBP.
ELECTRO ACUPUNCTURE IN FIBROMYALGIA: RESULTS OF A CONTROLLED TRIAL
Deluze C, Bosia L, Zirbs A, Chantraine A, Vischer TL.
Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of electroacupuncture in patients with fibromyalgia, a syndrome of unknown origin causing diffuse musculoskeletal pain. DESIGN--Three weeks' randomized study with blinded patients and evaluating physician. SETTING--University divisions of physical medicine and rehabilitation and rheumatology, Geneva.
PATIENTS: 70 patients (54 women) referred to the division for fibromyalgia as defined by the American College of Rheumatology. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized to electro acupuncture (n = 36) or a sham procedure (n = 34) by means of an electronic numbers generator.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain threshold, number of analgesic tablets used, regional pain score, pain recorded on visual analogue scale, sleep quality, morning stiffness, and patient's and evaluating physician's appreciation.
RESULTS: Seven of the eight outcome parameters showed a significant improvement in the active treatment group whereas none were improved in the sham treatment group. Differences between the groups were significant for five of the eight outcome measures after treatment.
CONCLUSIONS: Electro acupuncture is effective in relieving symptoms of fibromyalgia. Its potential in long term management should now be studied.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Hypothalamus and Amygdala Response to Acupuncture Stimuli in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Somatosensory Cortical Plasticity in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treated by Acupuncture
Somatosensory Cortical Plasticity in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - A Cross-sectional FMRI Evaluation
Migraine Headaches
Migraines, Tension-Type Headaches Respond to Acupuncture
Acupuncture Eases Migraine Pain
ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT IMPROVES NERVE CONDUCTION IN [ERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY
S. Schröder a,b , J. Liepert c,d , A. Remppis a,e* and J. H. Greten a,f* a Heidelberg School of Chinese Medicine, Heidelberg, Germany ; b Praxis für Neurologie und TCM Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany ; c Neurologische Klinik, Universitätskrankenhaus Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany ; d Kliniken Schmieder, Allensbach, Germany ; e Innere Medizin III, Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany ; and f Department of Neurophysiology, Instituto di Ciencas Biomedicas Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. *These authors contributed equally.
ABSTRACT: The etiology of peripheral neuropathy (PN) often remains elusive resulting in a lack of objective therapeutic strategies. We conducted a pilot study to evaluate the therapeutic effect of acupuncture on PN as measured by changes in nerve conduction and assessment of subjective symptoms. One hundred and ninety-two consecutive patients with PN as diagnosed by nerve conduction studies (NCS) were evaluated over a period of 1 year. Of 47 patients who met the criteria for PN of undefined etiology, 21 patients received acupuncture therapy according to classical Chinese Medicine as defined by the Heidelberg Model, while 26 patients received the best medical care but no specific treatment for PN. Sixteen patients (76%) in the acupuncture group improved symptomatically and objectively as measured by NCS, while only four patients in the control group (15%) did so. Three patients in the acupuncture group (14%) showed no change and two patients an aggravation (10%), whereas in the control group seven showed no change (27%) and 15 an aggravation (58%). Importantly, subjective improvement was fully correlated with improvement in NCS in both groups. The data suggest that there is a positive effect of acupuncture on PN of undefined etiology as measured by objective parameters.
A 6-MONTH AND 3-YEAR FOLLOW-UP STUDY
He D, Veiersted KB, Høstmark AT, Medbø JI.
Department of General Practice and Community Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway
The study was carried out to examine whether acupuncture treatment can reduce chronic pain in the neck and shoulders and related headache, and also to examine whether possible effects are long-lasting. Therefore, 24 female office workers (47+/-9 years old, mean+/-SD) who had had neck and shoulder pain for 12+/-9 years were randomly assigned to a test group (TG) or a control group (CG). Acupuncture was applied 10 times during 3-4 weeks either at presumed anti-pain acupoints (TG) or at placebo-points (CG). A physician measured the pain threshold (PPT) in the neck and shoulder regions with algometry before the first treatment, and after the last one and six months after the treatments. Questionnaires on muscle pain and headache were answered at the same occasions and again 3 years after the last treatment. The intensity and frequency of pain fell more for TG than for CG (Pb < or = 0.04) during the treatment period. Three years after the treatments TG still reported less pain than before the treatments (Pw < 0.001) contrary to what CG did (Pb < 0.04) The degree of headache fell during the treatment period for both groups, but more for TG than for CG (Pb=0.02) Three years after the treatments the effect still lasted for TG (Pw < 0.01) while the degree of headache for CG was back to the pre-treatment level (Pb < 0.001) PPT of some muscles rose during the treatments for TG and remained higher 6 months after the treatments (Pw < 0.05) which contrasts the situation for CG. Adequate acupuncture treatment may reduce chronic pain in the neck and shoulders and related headache. The effect lasted for 3 years.
DOES ACUPUNCTURE IMPROVE THE ORTHOPEDIC MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN?
A RANDOMIZED, BLINDED, CONTROLLED TRIAL WITH 3 MONTHS FOLLOW UP
Molsberger AF, Mau J, Pawelec DB, Winkler J.
Orthopedic Surgery and Research, Kasernenstr 1b, 40213, Düsseldorf, Germany. [email protected]
This prospective, randomised controlled trial, with three parallel groups, patient and observer blinded for verum and sham acupuncture and a follow up of 3 months raises the question: "Does a combination of acupuncture and conservative orthopedic treatment improve conservative orthopedic treatment in chronic low back pain (LBP). 186 in-patients of a LBP rehabilitation center with a history of LBP >or=6 weeks, VAS >or=50mm, and no pending compensation claims, were selected; for the three random group 4 weeks of treatment was applied. 174 patients met the protocol criteria and reported after treatment, 124 reported after 3 months follow up. Patients were assorted 4 strata: chronic LBP, <or=0.5 years, 0.5-2 years, 2-5 years, >or=5 years. Analysis was by intention to treat. Group 1 (Verum+COT) received 12 treatments of verum acupuncture and conservative orthopedic treatment (COT). Group 2 (Sham+COT) received 12 treatments of non-specific needling and COT. Group 3 (nil+COT) received COT alone. Verum- and Sham acupuncture were blinded against patient and examiner. The primary endpoints were pain reduction >or=50% on VAS 3 months after the end of the treatment protocol. Secondary endpoints were pain reduction >or=50% on VAS and treatment efficacy on a four-point box scale directly after the end of the treatment protocol and treatment efficacy after 3 months. In the whole sample a pain relief of >or=50% on VAS was reported directly after the end of treatment protocol: Verum+COT 65% (95%CI 51-77%), Sham+COT 34% (95%ci 22-49%), nil+COT 43% (95%ci 29-58%) - results are significant for Verum+COT over Sham+COT (P<or=0.02). The results after 3 months are: Verum+COT 77% (95%ci 62-88%), Sham+COT 29% (95%ci 16-46%), nil+Cot 14% (95%ci 4-30%) - effects are significant for Verum+COT over Sham+COT (P<or=0.001) and for Verum+COT over nil+COT (P<0.001). No difference was found in the mobility of the patients nor in the intake of NSAID diclofenac. Our conclusion is that acupuncture can be an important supplement of conservative orthopedic treatment in the management of chronic LBP.
ELECTRO ACUPUNCTURE IN FIBROMYALGIA: RESULTS OF A CONTROLLED TRIAL
Deluze C, Bosia L, Zirbs A, Chantraine A, Vischer TL.
Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of electroacupuncture in patients with fibromyalgia, a syndrome of unknown origin causing diffuse musculoskeletal pain. DESIGN--Three weeks' randomized study with blinded patients and evaluating physician. SETTING--University divisions of physical medicine and rehabilitation and rheumatology, Geneva.
PATIENTS: 70 patients (54 women) referred to the division for fibromyalgia as defined by the American College of Rheumatology. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized to electro acupuncture (n = 36) or a sham procedure (n = 34) by means of an electronic numbers generator.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain threshold, number of analgesic tablets used, regional pain score, pain recorded on visual analogue scale, sleep quality, morning stiffness, and patient's and evaluating physician's appreciation.
RESULTS: Seven of the eight outcome parameters showed a significant improvement in the active treatment group whereas none were improved in the sham treatment group. Differences between the groups were significant for five of the eight outcome measures after treatment.
CONCLUSIONS: Electro acupuncture is effective in relieving symptoms of fibromyalgia. Its potential in long term management should now be studied.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Hypothalamus and Amygdala Response to Acupuncture Stimuli in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Somatosensory Cortical Plasticity in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treated by Acupuncture
Somatosensory Cortical Plasticity in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - A Cross-sectional FMRI Evaluation
Migraine Headaches
Migraines, Tension-Type Headaches Respond to Acupuncture
Acupuncture Eases Migraine Pain
ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT IMPROVES NERVE CONDUCTION IN [ERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY
S. Schröder a,b , J. Liepert c,d , A. Remppis a,e* and J. H. Greten a,f* a Heidelberg School of Chinese Medicine, Heidelberg, Germany ; b Praxis für Neurologie und TCM Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany ; c Neurologische Klinik, Universitätskrankenhaus Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany ; d Kliniken Schmieder, Allensbach, Germany ; e Innere Medizin III, Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany ; and f Department of Neurophysiology, Instituto di Ciencas Biomedicas Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. *These authors contributed equally.
ABSTRACT: The etiology of peripheral neuropathy (PN) often remains elusive resulting in a lack of objective therapeutic strategies. We conducted a pilot study to evaluate the therapeutic effect of acupuncture on PN as measured by changes in nerve conduction and assessment of subjective symptoms. One hundred and ninety-two consecutive patients with PN as diagnosed by nerve conduction studies (NCS) were evaluated over a period of 1 year. Of 47 patients who met the criteria for PN of undefined etiology, 21 patients received acupuncture therapy according to classical Chinese Medicine as defined by the Heidelberg Model, while 26 patients received the best medical care but no specific treatment for PN. Sixteen patients (76%) in the acupuncture group improved symptomatically and objectively as measured by NCS, while only four patients in the control group (15%) did so. Three patients in the acupuncture group (14%) showed no change and two patients an aggravation (10%), whereas in the control group seven showed no change (27%) and 15 an aggravation (58%). Importantly, subjective improvement was fully correlated with improvement in NCS in both groups. The data suggest that there is a positive effect of acupuncture on PN of undefined etiology as measured by objective parameters.