Explanation on Evidence-based Guidelines of Clinical Practice with Acupuncture and Moxibustion: Periarthritis of Shoulder

Abstract

The Evidence-based Guidelines of Clinical Practice with Acupuncture and Moxibustion: Periarthritis of Shoulder (Guidelines for short) was officially published as a standard of China Association of Acupuncture and Moxibustion in 2015. From the purpose, methodology, scope, indication, recommended protocol, etc., this was explained to provide convenience for clinical use of acupuncturists. This Guidelines was developed based on Guidelines comprehensive search of literature regarding acupuncture for periarthritis of shoulder, the adoption of best evidence, expert experience, patient value across the world, methods of evidence quality and GRADE, references of clinical experience of famous acupuncturists in the ancient and modern time and expert consensus in the national level, which was hoped to provide solid evidence of acupuncture clinical treatment for periarthritis of shoulder to ensure the safety and effectiveness. In this Guidelines, the stage-by-stage treatment principle of acupuncture for periarthritis of shoulder was recommended. In the acute stage, the treatment aim was to relieve the pain, and distal acupoints along the meridians were selected with strong stimulation; the local acupoints were combined. In the chronic stage and rehabilitation stage, the treatment aim was to improve the dysfunction of shoulder joint, and acupuncture treatment was based on syndrome differentiation of etiology and meridian; the local acupoints were mainly selected, combined with acupoints based on etiology and acupoints along meridians.