Acupuncture For Chronic Pain Research Articles

Misinformation Persists in Complementary Health: Evaluating the Reliability and Quality of YouTube-Based Information on the Use of Acupuncture for Chronic Pain.

Acupuncture is commonly used to treat chronic pain. Patients often access public social media platforms for healthcare information when querying acupuncture. Our study aims to appraise the utility, accuracy, and quality of information available on YouTube, a popular social media platform, on acupuncture for chronic pain treatment. Using search terms such as "acupuncture for chronic pain" and "acupuncture pain relief", the top 54 videos by view count were selected. Included videos were >1 minute duration, contained audio in English, had >7000 views, and was related to acupuncture. One primary outcome of interest was categorizing each video's usefulness as useful, misleading, or neither. Another primary outcome of interest was the quality and reliability of each video using validated instruments, including the modified DISCERN (mDISCERN) tool and the Global Quality Scale (GQS). The means were calculated for the video production characteristics, production sources, and mDISCERN and GQS scores. Continuous and categorical outcomes were compared using Student's t-test and chi-square test, respectively. Of the 54 videos, 57.4% were categorized as useful, 14.8% were misleading, and 27.8% were neither. Useful videos had a mean GQS and mDISCERN score of 3.77±0.67 and 3.48±0.63, respectively, while misleading videos had mean GQS and mDISCERN score of 2.50±0.53 and 2.38±0.52, respectively. 41.8% of the useful videos were produced by a healthcare institution while none of the misleading videos were produced by a healthcare institution. However, 87.5% of the misleading videos were produced by health media compared to only 25.8% of useful videos from health media. As patients increasingly depend on platforms like YouTube for trustworthy information on complementary health practices such as acupuncture, our study emphasizes the critical need for more higher-quality videos from unbiased healthcare institutions and physicians to ensure patients are receiving reliable information regarding this topic.

Acupuncture use for pain after traumatic brain injury: a NIDILRR Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems cohort study

ABSTRACT Background Pain after traumatic brain injury (TBI) is common and can become chronic. Acupuncture is an increasingly popular non-pharmacologic option in the United States and is commonly used for pain. Objective We explored demographics, injury characteristics, and pain characteristics of individuals who reported using acupuncture for chronic pain after TBI. Methods We analyzed a subset of data collected as part of the Pain After Traumatic Brain Injury collaborative study and identified individuals reporting a history of acupuncture as part of management for chronic pain after TBI. We characterized and compared basic demographic data, pain treatment engagements, pain severity, pain interference, functional independence, and pain locations using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results Our sample included 1,064 individuals. Acupuncture use (n = 208) was lower proportionally among females, Blacks/African Americans, Asians, less educated, and nonmilitary service members. Insurance type varied between acupuncture and non-acupuncture users. Functional and pain outcomes were similar, but acupuncture users reported a higher number of pain sites. Discussion Acupuncture is one treatment utilized by individuals with TBI and chronic pain. Further investigation would be helpful to understand the barriers and facilitators of acupuncture use to inform clinical trials to examine the potential benefit of acupuncture on pain outcomes after TBI.

Knowledge Mapping of International Research on Acupuncture for Chronic Pain: A Bibliometric Analysis.

With the wide acceptance of acupuncture, many papers and guidelines recommend that acupuncture is effective for chronic pain (CP). In this study, we applied bibliometric methods to analyze the current research situation of acupuncture intervention in CP, to gain insight into the current situation and future development trend of this field. Science Citation Index Expanded was searched for publications related to acupuncture for CP between 1900 and 2022. VOSviewer, CiteSpace and Thomson Data Analyzer were used to analyze the annual publication, authors and cited authors and their countries (regions) and institutions, journals and cited journals, cited references, co-occurrence keywords, burst keywords, and the relevant centrality. A total of 1968 papers were retrieved, the annual publications have shown a rapid growth trend in the recent 20 years. The USA (708) and the Kyung Hee University (31) were the most productive country and institution, respectively, while the USA (0.37) and University of Maryland (0.13) had the highest centrality. MacPherson, Hugh published the most papers in this field (29), and Vickers, A J were the most influential author (289 times cited). Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine was the most productive journal (92), whereas PAIN was the most influential one (4743 times cited). Breivik, H's (2006) paper had the most citation count (3025), while Furlan's (2005) paper had the highest centrality (0.23). The research focuses in this field mainly include pain, electroacupuncture, Low back pain, Systematic review, Randomized controlled trial etc. Researchers are currently paying more attention to the psychological problems caused by CP. The research of acupuncture for CP will be further expanded. International cooperation of this research field needs to be further strengthened. More high-quality designed trials need to be conducted.

Shen in Acupuncture for Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is one of the major complaints from patients seen in all acupuncture clinics. The most common principle to treat pain with acupuncture is to activate channels to relieve pain; however, little attention has been paid to treating the patient’s shen when treating their pain. This article is an introduction to the incorporation of the treatment of shen when treating chronic pain with acupuncture. The discussion of the shen and its treatments in this article are based on the review and study of the theories and principles in the ancient classics of traditional Chinese medicine. Shen is the interaction between yin and yang. Shen is the governor of life; it controls all physical and mental activities. Shen enables us to feel pain. The disorders of shen in pain sufferers can negatively affect how they feel or recognize pain, how they response to pain and how they report their pain level. We should pay more attention to the treatment of patient’s shen during the entire treatment course of chronic pain. Guarding shen is the key to acupuncture efficacy; the essential principles are harmonizing yin and yang by needling techniques and regulating hun and po at the needling sites.

Retracted: Effect of Sham Acupuncture on Chronic Pain: A Bayesian Network Meta-Analysis.

Along with increasing research on acupuncture for chronic pain, the validity of sham acupuncture (SA) has also been argued. Nine databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from the inception dates of the databases to July 5, 2022. With Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods, a Bayesian multiple-treatment network meta-analysis (NMA) with random-effects model was conducted. A total of 62 RCTs with 6,806 patients and four kinds of treatments (real acupuncture [RA], non-acupuncture [NA], penetrative SA [PSA], and non-penetrative SA [NPSA]) were included. The results indicated that both NPSA and PSA were not superior to NA in improving chronic pain (NPSA: mean difference [MD]= -4.77, 95% confidence interval [CI] -11.09 to 1.52; PSA: MD= -4.96, 95% CI -10.38 to 0.48). After NPSA and PSA were combined into the SA group, the weak trend of pain relief from SA was still not statistically significant (MD= -4.91, 95% CI -9.93 to 0.05). NPSA and PSA had similar effects (MD= 0.18, 95% CI -5.45 to 5.81). RA was significantly associated with pain relief, compared with NPSA and PSA (NPSA: MD= -12.03, 95% CI -16.62 to -7.41; PSA: MD= -11.85, 95% CI -15.48 to -8.23). The results were generally consistent regardless of pain phenotype, frequency, duration, acupuncture methods, analgesic intake, or detection bias. These results suggested that acupuncture was significantly associated with reduced chronic pain. The two kinds of placebo acupuncture, NPSA and PSA, have similar effects. Both NPSA and PSA, with a weak but not significant effect, are appropriate to be inert placebo controls in RCTs for chronic pain.

Overall Reporting Descriptions of Acupuncture for Chronic Pain in Randomized Controlled Trials in English Journals.

BackgroundWhether the clinical effect of acupuncture in chronic pain is effective has always been a hot topic of research, which has a great relationship with the overall reporting descriptions of acupuncture, especially the sham acupuncture intervention. To confirm the effectiveness of acupuncture, more clinical studies are often required. Therefore, it is necessary to report high-quality and complete descriptions of acupuncture in clinical trials. This study aims to assess the overall reporting quality of acupuncture for chronic pain in randomized controlled trials (RCTs).MethodsThree databases from inception to March 2020 were searched, to assess the quality of acupuncture reports included the RCTs based on the pain-specific supplement to Consolidated Standards for Reporting Trials (CONSORT) and Standards for Reporting Interventions in Controlled Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA) guidelines. The quality of sham acupuncture descriptions was evaluated based on the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR)-placebo checklist. Descriptive statistics and analysis of the results were carried out according to the percentage of each item.ResultsA total of 74 RCTs were included which met the inclusion criteria. Based on the pain-specific CONSORT, the reporting rates of “Statistical methods”, “Participant flow”, and “Blinding” were “52.70%”, “70.27%”, and “77.03%”, respectively. The weakest reported items in STRICTA were related to the depth of insertion (Item 2c, 54.05%) and the setting and context of treatment (Item 4b, 0.00%). Based on the TIDieR-placebo checklist, the reporting rates of “Item 12”, “Item 11”, “Item 13”, “Item 3”, and “Item 4” were “8.11%”, “10.81%”, “29.73%”, “ 44.59% ”, and “47.30%”, respectively.ConclusionAt present, the overall report quality of acupuncture treatment for chronic pain in English journals is acceptable, but the report rate in some aspects is still low. In the future, researchers should report RCTs of acupuncture following cleaner checklists and guidelines.

Research Trends from 2010 to 2020 for Pain Treatment with Acupuncture: A Bibliometric Analysis.

BackgroundGiven that acupuncture treatment for pain has gradually been accepted by researchers from various countries. However, few bibliometric analyses have been performed on the published articles. The objective of this research was to review its application for pain in recent 10 years and analyze, demonstrate and evaluate the trends, major research hotspots and frontier areas.MethodsThe Web of Science retrieved literature from 2010 to 2020 on acupuncture for pain. The CiteSpace and Excel were used to analyze annual volumes of publications, journals, cited journals, countries, institutions, authors, cited authors, references and keywords and to draw collaborative networks and reference co-citation network maps.ResultsThe search finally included 4227 related studies. Results show that the number of annual publications has been increasing gradually. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med (366) was the most productive journal, while Pain (2270/0.04) ranked first in terms of frequency and centrality of cited journals, respectively. Among countries/institutions, the China (1252) and the Kyung Hee University (228) ranked first. Lee MS (51 articles) was the most effective author while MacPherson H (577) was the most cited author. The most frequently cited reference was a systematic review of individual patient data on acupuncture for chronic pain (322). “Burden” was identified as a frontier research item for 2017–2020.ConclusionThis study provides a new and in-depth understanding of current acupuncture used for the treatment of pain. We anticipate that this study will stimulate international cooperation among research teams to advance the field.

An Evaluation of the Depression Symptoms Level Using the Beck Depression Inventory Scale in Patients Receiving Acupuncture for Chronic Pain

Women respond more severely than men. Organs are living in acupuncture; vitality is provided by life energy called raw. Pathogens that interrupt the flow that blocks the raw flow form diseases. Acupuncture needles are placed in the special spot on the Bonghan channels to regulate the qi flow by electron transfer. This study made in GETAT Center, Konya Necmettin Erbakan University Meram Medical Faculty in 2018 between March and November, it was carried out with the approval of the ethics committee of Necmettin Erbakan University Meram Medical Faculty 2018/1252. The study design is cross sectionel study; included 46 participants of female sex who had experienced chronic pain for approximately six months. Beck depression scale was applied to both sexes with chronic pain. Acupuncture was applied in different numbers according to the severity of the pain and the reasons for the illness. Senses were first performed at intervals of once a week, then once a week, then every 15 days. Sessions lasted 20 minutes. In fact, a decrease of five units was considered clinically significant. Each patient was informed about the procedure before acupuncture and an informed consent was obtained. Before beginning the acupuncture sessions, each patient was given a participant number and the BDI was administered. The scale was discussed with each patient personally. The BDI consists of 21 questions, including questions about the participants's mood during the previous week. Significant effect of time and visual analog scale were determined on depression score.(p<0.01) Before acupuncture Beck Depression score 15.±10.28, after acupuncture score 9±6.81. Acupuncture may be effective in treating chronic pain-related depressive symptoms. Acupuncture is a method that does not have any reliable side effects which can be applied in depressive symptoms in chronic pain patients. Comparative controlled studies are needed in patients with and without acupuncture.

Acupuncture for the Relief of Chronic Pain: A Synthesis of Systematic Reviews.

Background and Objectives: It is estimated that 28 million people in the UK live with chronic pain. A biopsychosocial approach to chronic pain is recommended which combines pharmacological interventions with behavioural and non-pharmacological treatments. Acupuncture represents one of a number of non-pharmacological interventions for pain. In the current climate of difficult commissioning decisions and constantly changing national guidance, the quest for strong supporting evidence has never been more important. Although hundreds of systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analyses have been conducted, most have been inconclusive, and this has created uncertainty in clinical policy and practice. There is a need to bring all the evidence together for different pain conditions. The aim of this review is to synthesise SRs of RCTs evaluating the clinical efficacy of acupuncture to alleviate chronic pain and to consider the quality and adequacy of the evidence, including RCT design. Materials and Methods: Electronic databases were searched for English language SRs and meta-analyses on acupuncture for chronic pain. The SRs were scrutinised for methodology, risk of bias and judgement of efficacy. Results: A total of 177 reviews of acupuncture from 1989 to 2019 met our eligibility criteria. The majority of SRs found that RCTs of acupuncture had methodological shortcomings, including inadequate statistical power with a high risk of bias. Heterogeneity between RCTs was such that meta-analysis was often inappropriate. Conclusions: The large quantity of RCTs on acupuncture for chronic pain contained within systematic reviews provide evidence that is conflicting and inconclusive, due in part to recurring methodological shortcomings of RCTs. We suggest that an enriched enrolment with randomised withdrawal design may overcome some of these methodological shortcomings. It is essential that the quality of evidence is improved so that healthcare providers and commissioners can make informed choices on the interventions which can legitimately be provided to patients living with chronic pain.

Improvement in gait performance in oldest-old with chronic pain, after acupuncture intervention

Aims: This study aimed to observe the possible benefits of acupuncture in chronic pain and gait performance of oldest-old, people aged 80 and older. Method: The study population consisted of oldest-old with chronic pain. For the initial assessment of pain was used a questionnaire containing a figure with anatomical regions and intensity of pain referred by the participant. The evaluation of the gait performance we used the Zeno walkway that has electronic sensors pressure and evaluates various gait parameters. After 10 acupuncture sessions, pain intensity and gait performance were reevaluated. The sessions had a frequency of twice a week and treatment was performed individually for several protocols points according to the illness or pain reported by each patient. Results: Twenty-three oldest-old were initially enrolled, 16 completed the ten sessions of acupuncture and proposed assessments. In the final evaluation, the intensity of pain decreased in 12 of the 13 sites initially referred. In gait parameters, we achieved significant improvement in step and stride length, increased gait speed and cadence. Conclusions: Demonstrated with this study that the acupuncture treatment was effective in reducing chronic pain and improvement in gait performance of the oldest-old.

Exploring the Multiple Roles of Acupuncture in Alleviating the Opioid Crisis.

Exploring the Multiple Roles of Acupuncture in Alleviating the Opioid Crisis.

Acupuncture for Chronic Pain in the Vermont Medicaid Population: A Prospective, Pragmatic Intervention Trial.

IntroductionIn response to the opioid crisis, the 2016 Vermont legislature commissioned a study to assess acupuncture for patients with chronic pain in the Vermont Medicaid population.ObjectiveTo assess the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of acupuncture provided by licensed acupuncturists for Vermont Medicaid patients with chronic pain.MethodsA total of 156 Medicaid patients with chronic pain were offered up to 12 acupuncture treatments within a 60-day period at the offices of 28 Vermont licensed acupuncturists. PROMIS® questionnaires were administered prior to and at the end of the treatment period to assess changes in pain intensity, pain interference, physical function, fatigue, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, and social isolation. Questionnaires also captured patients’ overall impressions of treatments as well as self-reported changes in medication use and work function.ResultsOne hundred eleven women (71%) and 45 men (29%) with a wide range of pain complaints received a mean of 8.2 treatments during the intervention period. Measurements captured prior to and at the end of the treatment period showed significant improvements in group mean pain intensity, pain interference, physical function, fatigue, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, and social isolation as assessed by Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) measures (paired t tests, P < .01). Fifty-seven percent of patients using analgesic (nonopioid) medication reported reductions in use. Thirty-two percent of patients using opioid medication reported reductions in use of opioid medication following the intervention. Seventy-four percent of employed patients reported improved capacity to work. Ninety-six percent of patients said that they would recommend acupuncture to others with chronic pain, and 91% reported qualitative improvements, including physical (31%), functional/behavioral (29%), and psycho-emotional (24%) improvements.ConclusionsOur findings demonstrate that acupuncture treatment for chronic pain is feasible and well received by patients in the Vermont Medicaid population. Receiving care from Licensed Acupuncturists was associated with significant improvements in physical, functional, psycho-emotional, and occupational outcomes compared with before receiving acupuncture treatments.

Acupuncture for chronic pain: an update and critical overview.

Acupuncture is now recommended for several chronic pain conditions. Despite supportive evidence of its effectiveness, this ancient approach is often misunderstood, and may still be underused in mainstream practice. A critical review on its effectiveness and practice integration, and mechanisms of action is essential to the medical community that is continuing to seek nonopioid therapies for chronic pain. Mounting evidence supports the effectiveness of acupuncture to treat chronic low back, neck, shoulder, and knee pain, as well as headaches. Additional data are emerging that support the use of acupuncture as an adjunct or alternative to opioids, and in perioperative settings. Findings related to its mechanisms of action include transient receptor potential cation channel vanilloid 1 activation in the periphery, microglial suppression in the cerebral cortex and spinal cord, and regulation of cytokines and other key inflammatory factors in the spinal cord. Incremental integration of acupuncture into pain medicine practices and training programmes continues to grow. Acupuncture is effective, safe, and cost-effective for treating several chronic pain conditions when performed by well-trained healthcare professionals. Further studies on its use as an adjunct or alternative to opioids, and in perioperative settings are needed.

Acupuncture for chronic pain: Definitive results on treatment and placebo effects

Acupuncture for chronic pain: Definitive results on treatment and placebo effects

Pressure Pain Sensitivity and Insular Combined Glutamate and Glutamine (Glx) Are Associated with Subsequent Clinical Response to Sham But Not Traditional Acupuncture in Patients Who Have Chronic Pain.

Clinical trials of acupuncture in chronic pain have largely failed to demonstrate efficacy of traditional over sham acupuncture. However, it should be noted that sham acupuncture is not inert. To determine if experimental-pressure pain assessment and chemical neuroimaging can identify differential responsiveness to sham as opposed to traditional acupuncture. Fifty patients with fibromyalgia were randomized to either 9 traditional (TA) or sham (SA) acupuncture treatments over a period of 4 weeks. Both participants and assessors were blinded. The main outcome measures were pressure-pain sensitivity at the thumbnail, insular glutamate+glutamine (Glx), and clinical pain. PATIENTS WITH LOW PAIN SENSITIVITY (LPS), BUT NOT WITH HIGH PAIN SENSITIVITY (HPS), HAD A SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED CLINICAL PAIN RESPONSE TO SA (CHANGE IN MEAN [STANDARD DEVIATION (SD)]: HPS -8.65 [7.91]; LPS -2.14 [6.68]; p=0.03). This relationship was not the case for TA (HPS -6.90 [4.51]; LPS -6.41 [9.25]; p=0.88). SA-treated patients who were more sensitive also had greater baseline levels of insular Glx than patients who were less sensitive (Glx mean [SD]: HPS 11.3 [1.18]; LPS 10.2 [0.54]; p=0.04). Pressure-pain testing may identify patients who are less likely to respond to SA. This effect may relate to the levels of brain excitatory neurotransmitters.

Acupuncture for chronic pain?

Acupuncture for chronic pain?

Patient characteristics and variation in treatment outcomes: Which patients benefit most from acupuncture for chronic pain?

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to identify patients' characteristics that increase or decrease their benefit from acupuncture treatment of chronic pain. METHODS Patients with chronic low back pain, headache, neck pain, or pain due to osteoarthritis of the knee or hip, were included in 4 multicenter, randomized, controlled studies, all conducted in Germany. All patients received routine care; the patients randomized to the acupuncture group received additional acupuncture treatment. Data were pooled, and the main outcome was defined as the 3-month change from baseline of the SF-36 bodily pain subscale. To identify predictors for treatment effects and effect modifiers (ie, variables that interact with the form of treatment), patients' characteristics and their interaction with treatment were included in a mixed linear model to predict treatment outcome. RESULTS A total of 9,990 patients who were treated by 2,781 physicians were analyzed. The outcome was markedly improved in the acupuncture group (P < 0.001). Age, education, duration of illness, baseline pain, and some concomitant diseases predicted treatment outcome in both groups. Patients' characteristics that enlarged the acupuncture effect (ie, acted as effect modifiers) were being female (P = 0.028), living in a multi-person household (P = 0.002), failure of other therapies before the study (P = 0.049), and former positive acupuncture experience (P = 0.005). DISCUSSION Future research to clarify the modifying effects with special focus on patients' expectations and other psychological variables is needed.

Acupuncture for chronic pain within the research programme (Modellvorhaben) of 10 German health insurance companies (n=454920)

Acupuncture for chronic pain within the research programme (Modellvorhaben) of 10 German health insurance companies (<i>n</i>=454920)

Acupuncture for chronic pain in Japan: a review.

Many Japanese reports of acupuncture and moxibustion for chronic pain are not listed in medical databases such as Medline. Therefore, they are not easily accessible to researchers outside of Japan. To complement existing reviews of acupuncture and moxibustion for chronic pain and to provide more detailed discussion and analysis, we did a literature search using ‘Igaku Chuo Zasshi Wed’ (Japana Centra Revuo Medicina) and ‘Citation Information by National Institute of Information’ covering the period 1978–2006. Original articles and case reports of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of chronic pain were included. Animal studies, surveys, and news articles were excluded. Two independent reviewers extracted data from located articles in a pre-defined structured way, and assessed the likelihood of causality in each case. We located 57 papers written in Japanese (20 full papers, 37 case reports). Conditions examined were headache (12 trials), chronic low back pain (9 trials), rheumatoid arthritis (8 trials), temporomandibular dysfunction (8 trials), katakori (8 trials) and others (12 trials). While 23 were described as clinical control trials (CCTs), 11 employed a quasi-random method. Applying the 5-point Jadad quality assessment scoring system, the mean score was 1.5 ± 1.3 (SD). Eleven (52%) of the CCTs were conducted to determine a more effective procedure for acupuncture; these compared a certain type of acupuncture with another type of acupuncture or specific additional points. In particular, the trigger point acupuncture was widely used to treat chronic low back pain in Japan. Many reports of chronic pain treatment by acupuncture and moxibustion are listed in Japanese databases. From the data, we conclude that there is limited evidence that acupuncture is more effective than no treatment, and inconclusive evidence that trigger point acupuncture is more effective than placebo, sham acupuncture or standard care.

Acupuncture for chronic pain within the research program of 10 German Health Insurance Funds—Basic results from an observational study

To investigate which patients receive acupuncture in the framework of statutory health insurance in Germany, how treatment was carried out, and what results were achieved. Basic documentation (carried out by physician) within a prospective observational study. 454,920 patients with at least one of the three chronic pain conditions including headache, low back pain and osteoarthritis treated by 8727 medical acupuncturists (panel doctors) within the scope of a reimbursement program. Fifty-three percent of the patients were treated by general practitioners, 19% by orthopaedists and 9% by internists. Eighty percent of patients were female, mean age was 53.6 (S.D.=15.7) years. Primary indication for acupuncture was low back pain (45%), headache (36%), and osteoarthritis (12%). Median time since the initial diagnosis was 3 years. 8.4 (S.D.=3.0) acupuncture sessions (body acupuncture) were administered on average. In 28% a concomitant treatment was reported. Effectiveness of acupuncture was rated by physicians in 22% of the patients as marked, in 54% as moderate, in 16% as minimal and in 4% as poor (unchanged). In 8% of the patients mild adverse reactions were reported, severe side effects occurred in 13 patients (0.003%). Orthopaedists rated the effectiveness of acupuncture lower, showing shortest time for face-to-face contact with the patient. More acupuncture training did not correspond to better therapeutic effect assessed by physicians. Acupuncture proved a highly demanded treatment option for chronic pain conditions within the German research program. Results indicate that acupuncture provided by qualified therapists is safe, and patients benefited from the treatment.