Journal of Acupuncture Research

Korean Acupuncture & Moxibustion Medicine Society (대한침구의학회)
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Electroacupuncture for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

  • Park, Cheol Woo (Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine, Gwang-ju Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine) ;
  • Lim, Min Ji (Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine, Gwang-ju Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine) ;
  • Lee, Se Won (Department of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation, Gwang-ju Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine) ;
  • Yi, Yeon Hoo (Department of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation, Gwang-ju Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine) ;
  • Song, Da Woon (Department of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation, Gwang-ju Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine) ;
  • Yu, Sang Gu (Department of Korean Internal Medicine Gwang-ju Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Min Ju (Department of Korean Internal Medicine Gwang-ju Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine) ;
  • Oh, Da Yoon (Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine, Ulsan Jaseng Korean Medicine Hospital) ;
  • Choi, Hyo Jung (Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine, Bucheon Jaseng Korean Medicine Hospital) ;
  • Ju, Ah Ra (Department of Korean Internal Medicine, Bucheon Jaseng Korean Medicine Hospital)
  • Received : 2021.11.18
  • Accepted : 2022.04.19
  • Published : 2022.05.31
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Abstract

This study aimed to examine the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome by reviewing published randomized controlled trials. Among the 186 studies retrieved from 7 online databases (PubMed, Cochrane library, CNKI, NDSL, RISS, OASIS, KMbase) on October 29, 2021, 4 studies were selected according to the inclusion, exclusion criteria, and were evaluated using risk of bias. Control groups for electroacupuncture were wearing a splint at night, traditional acupuncture, and medication. Methods such as total effective, functional status scale, symptom severity scale, electromyography, tip pinch strength, visual analogue scale, numeric rating scale, and ultrasound were used to evaluate the therapeutic effect. Electroacupuncture was reported to have significant treatment results compared with the control group in methods such as total effectiveness, electromyography, and tip pinch strength. However, the quality of the studies (using risk of bias) does not allow reliable conclusions to be made. Many high quality (low risk of bias) randomized controlled trials are needed to examine the efficacy of electroacupuncture treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome.

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References

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