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Abstract
Methods: We searched three electronic databases (PUBMED, RISS, and KISS) and manually checked related Korean journals and reference lists up to April 2012. We included randomized controlled trials, clinical controlled trials, and case reports/ series by using as Key words needle-type acupuncture (manual acupuncture and electronic acupuncture) to treat low back pain in English and Korean. We investigated the frequency of selected acupoints, changes on the visual analogue scale for low back pain, and the statistical significance in each study among the trials. Results: We included 37 articles (domestic: 17 and international: 20) and 53 studies (domestic: 28 and international: 25) in this report. The most-frequently adopted acupoints were BL23, BL24, BL25, GB30, BL26, BL60, BL32, BL40, KI3, GV3, and ST36 in domestic studies and BL23, BL25, BL40, BL60, GB30, GB34, BL32, and BL26 in international studies. The efficacies of the acupoints were different between domestic and the international studies based on the statistical significance of the visual analog scale for low back pain. Conclusions: These results suggest that both proximal and distal acupoints based on meridian theory were used in clinical trials to treat low back pain. Providing clinical guidelines, evaluating the results of clinical trials appropriately, and reporting the efficacies of acupoints would be helpful.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design.
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