The role of treatment timing and mode of stimulation in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea with acupuncture: An exploratory randomised controlled trial [Randomized controlled study on the analgesic effect of superficial needling plus electrostimulation of sanyinjiao (SP6) for primary dysmenorrhea]. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in the relief of primary dysmenorrhea. A clinical trial of acupuncture about time-varying treatment and points selection in primary dysmenorrhea. Electroacupuncture is not effective in chronic painful neuropathies. [Cumulative analgesic effects of EA stimulation of sanyinjiao (SP 6) in primary dysmenorrhea patients: a multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial]. Electroacupuncture relieves pain in men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: three-arm randomized trial. Auricular electro-acupuncture as an additional perioperative analgesic method during oocyte aspiration in IVF treatment. Efficacy of Acupuncture versus Combined Oral Contraceptive Pill in Treatment of Moderate-to-Severe Dysmenorrhea: A Randomized Controlled Trial A randomized clinical trial of the effectiveness of an acupressure device (relief brief) for managing symptoms of dysmenorrhea. Surgical treatment of primary dysmenorrhea with laparoscopic uterine nerve ablation. A randomized pilot study of acupuncture treatment for primary dysmenorrhea. ELECTROACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT OF OBESITY WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS Electro-acupuncture as a peroperative analgesic method and its effects on implantation rate and neuropeptide Y concentrations in follicular fluid. A randomised trial of electro-acupuncture for arthralgia related to aromatase inhibitor use. Effects of noninvasive electroacupuncture at Hegu (LI4) and Sanyinjiao (SP6) acupoints on dysmenorrhea: a randomized controlled trial. Feasibility Trial of Electroacupuncture for Aromatase Inhibitor—Related Arthralgia in Breast Cancer Survivors
Objectives We examined the effect of changing treatment timing and the use of manual , electro acupuncture on the symptoms of  primary dysmenorrhea .  Methods A r and omised controlled trial was performed with four arms , low frequency manual acupuncture ( LF-MA ) , high frequency manual acupuncture ( HF-MA ) , low frequency electro acupuncture ( LF-EA ) and high frequency electro acupuncture ( HF-EA ) . A manualised trial protocol was used to allow differentiation and individualized treatment over three months . A total of 74 women were r and omly assigned to one of the four groups ( LF-MA n = 19 , HF-MA n = 18 , LF-EA n = 18 , HF-EA n = 19 ) . Twelve treatments were performed over three menstrual cycles , either once per week ( LF groups ) or three times in the week prior to menses ( HF groups ) . All groups received a treatment in the first 48 hours of menses . The primary outcome was the reduction in peak menstrual pain at 12 months from trial entry . Results During the treatment period and nine month follow-up all groups showed statistically significant ( p < .001 ) reductions in peak and average menstrual pain compared to baseline but there were no differences between groups ( p > 0.05 ) . Health related quality of life increased significantly in six domains in groups having high frequency of treatment compared to two domains in low frequency groups . Manual acupuncture groups required less analgesic medication than electro-acupuncture groups ( p = 0.02 ) . HF-MA was most effective in reducing secondary menstrual symptoms compared to both – EA groups ( p<0.05 ) . Conclusion Acupuncture treatment reduced menstrual pain intensity and duration after three months of treatment and this was sustained for up to one year after trial entry . The effect of changing mode of stimulation or frequency of treatment on menstrual pain was not significant . This may be due to a lack of power . The role of acupuncture stimulation on menstrual pain needs to be investigated in appropriately powered r and omised controlled trials OBJECTIVE To evaluate the analgesic and therapeutic effects of electro-superficial-acupuncture ( ESA ) of Sanyinjiao ( SP6 ) for treating primary dysmenorrhea ( PD ) . METHODS A total of 171 patients were r and omly divided into ESA ( n=57 ) , superficial acupuncture ( SA ) ( n=57 ) and medication ( n=57 ) groups . For patients in SA group , bilateral SP6 were punctured superficially with special single-use needles , and for those in ESA group , after puncturing , electric stimulation ( 60 Hz , 2 - 3 V ) was applied to SP6 for 30 min . Patients of medication group were ordered to take Brufen sustained-release capsules ( 0.3 mg , b. i. d. , for 3 days ) , then , take it again from the 3rd day on before the onset of menstruation to the 2nd day after the onset . The cumulative score of clinical symptoms were evaluated before and after the treatment . RESULTS Comparison among 3 groups showed that the difference values of score ( pre-treatment -- post-treatment ) of both ESA and SA groups were significantly bigger than that of medication group ( P<0.001 ) . After the treatment from 1 min to 30 min , patients with complete relief of dysmenorrhea of ESA group were significantly more than those of SA group during the 1st menstrual cycle ( P<0.05 ) . Results of intention-to-treat ( ITT ) analysis showed that of the three 57 cases in ESA , SA and medication groups , the cured cases were 40 , 38 and 10 , the markedly effective were 9 , 10 and 27 , the effective were 5 , 4 and 7 , and the failed were 3 , 5 and 13 , with the total effective rates being 94.74 % , 91.23 % and 77.19 % respectively . The effective rates of ESA and SA groups were significantly higher than that of medication group ( P<0.01 ) , and the results of per- protocol analysis ( PP ) were similar to those of ITT analysis . CONCLUSION The analgesic effect of both ESA and SA at SP6 for PD patients is significantly better than that of oral administration of Brufen The purpose of this study was to replicate a previous study to determine the effectiveness of acupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in treating primary dysmenorrhea . Twenty-one women with dysmenorrhea received a placebo pill or 30 minutes of acupuncture-like TENS . All subjects completed two pain question naires before treatment ; immediately posttreatment ; 30 , 60 , 120 , and 180 minutes posttreatment ; and the next morning upon awakening . Each woman also participated in a separate study measuring electrical resistance at four auricular acupuncture points before and immediately after treatment . The data were analyzed with a two-factor repeated- measures analysis of variance , which revealed statistical significance over time but not for group or interaction between group and time . Results revealed an average pain relief of at least 50 % immediately posttreatment , indicating that acupuncture-like TENS may be useful for dysmenorrheic pain . This study also suggests that auriculotherapy via acupressure may relieve the pain of primary dysmenorrhea OBJECTIVE To observe the clinical therapeutic effects of acupuncture at single point Shiqizhui ( EX-B8 ) and multi-points in time-varying treatment for primary dysmenorrhea . METHODS 600 patients with primary dysmenorrhea were r and omly assigned to the single point group ( n=200 ) including group A ( treating before the menstruation , n=100 ) and group B ( immediately treating as soon as pain occurrence , n=100 ) , the multi-points group ( n=200 ) including group C ( treating before the menstruation , n=100 ) and group D ( immediately treating as soon as pain occurrence , n=100 ) , or the control group , group E ( n=200 , no treatment ) . The therapeutic effects were analyzed after treatment for three menstrual cycles and interviewed for three follow-up periods . RESULTS Acupuncture could effectively relieve menstrual pain for primary dysmenorrhea compared with the control group ( P<0.05 , P<0.01 ) . Immediate pain relief occurred following acupuncture within 5 min in group B ( P<0.01 ) and group D ( P<0.01 ) , and the two groups obviously relieved menstrual pain for VAS scores . Both group A and group C obviously relieved menstrual pain ( P<0.01 ) , and group C was better than group A ( P<0.05 ) . Compared with group D , Group C was much better for CMSS scores in cycle 1 . CONCLUSION Treating before the menstruation is better than immediately treating as soon as pain occurrence at the improvement in symptoms of dysmenorrheal at multi-points . And single point is better than multi-points when immediately treating as soon as pain occurrence . The present trial suggest Shiqizhui ( EX-B8 ) should be chosen as a convenient point OBJECTIVE To investigate the analgesic efficacy of electroacupuncture ( EA ) in patients with chronic painful neuropathy . DESIGN Double-blind , placebo-controlled , cross-over study . Inclusion criteria were diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy , neuropathic pain ( visual analog scale > 4 ) for at least 6 months , and stable analgesic medications for at least 3 months . PATIENTS Sixteen patients were r and omized into two arms to be treated with EA or pseudo-EA ( placebo ) . INTERVENTIONS The protocol included 6 weeks of treatment , 12 weeks free of treatment , and then further 6 weeks of treatment . EA or pseudo-EA was performed weekly during each treatment period . OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was the number of patients treated with EA achieving at least 50 % of pain relief at the end of each treatment compared with pain intensity at baseline . Secondary outcomes were modification in patient 's global impression of change , depression and anxiety , and quality of life . RESULTS Eleven patients were r and omized to EA and five patients to pseudo-EA as the first treatment . Only one patient per group ( EA and pseudo-EA ) reported 50 % of pain relief at the end of each treatment compared with pain intensity at baseline . Pain intensity did not differ between EA ( 5.7 ± 2.3 at baseline and 4.97 ± 3.23 after treatment ) and pseudo-EA ( 4.9 ± 1.9 at baseline and 4.18 ± 2.69 after treatment ) . There was no difference between patients who received EA as the first treatment and patients initially treated with placebo . There was no change in the secondary outcomes . CONCLUSIONS Our results do not support the use of EA in this population of painful neuropathy patients . Further studies in larger groups of patients are warranted to confirm our observation OBJECTIVE To compare the cumulative analgesic effect of electroacupuncture ( EA ) stimulation of Sanyinjiao ( SP 6 ) , Xuanzhong ( GB 39 ) and non-acupoint for primary dysmenorrhea patients . METHODS A total of 200 patients with primary dysmenorrhea were r and omly assigned to Sanyinjiao ( SP 6 , a dysmenorrheal-relieving related acupoint ) group , Xuanzhong ( GB 39 , an unrelated acupoint ) group , non-acupoint group and control group , with 50 cases in each group . The participants were administered with EA ( 2 Hz/100 Hz , 0.5 - 1.6 mA ) at SP 6 , GB 39 and non-acupoint for 30 min , once daily for 3 consecutive days . The intensity of the pain was ranked from 0 ( no pain ) to 100 ( intolerable ) using visual analogue scale ( VAS ) and RSS ( Cox retrospective symptom scale ) severity rating scores ( RSS-COX 2 ) before and after three interventions . RESULTS In comparison with the control group , VAS and RSS-COX 2 scores were significantly lower in the SP 36 , GB 39 and non-acupoint groups ( P < 0.001 , P < 0.05 ) , suggesting an alleviation of the pain severity after EA treatment . No significant differences were found among the three treatment groups in both VAS and RSS-COX 2 scores ( P > 0.05 ) . CONCLUSION EA stimulation of SP 6 , GB 39 and non-acupoint has a good cumulative analgesic effect in patients with primary dysmenorrhea OBJECTIVES To investigate the clinical effect of electroacupuncture ( EA ) for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome ( CP/CPPS ) . METHODS We recruited 63 participants meeting the U.S. National Institutes of Health ( NIH ) consensus criteria for CP/CPPS . After the inclusion /exclusion criteria were applied , 39 men were r and omized to 3 treatment groups : group 1 , advice and exercise plus 12 sessions of EA ; group 2 , advice and exercise plus 12 sessions of sham EA ( SEA ) ; and group 3 , advice and exercise alone ( A&E ) for 6 weeks . A total of 6 acupuncture points were used to stimulate the sacral nerve and release the piriformis muscle using an electrical pulse generator . Symptoms related to CP/CPPS were assessed using the NIH-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index ( NIH-CPSI ) . Prostagl and in E(2 ) and beta-endorphin levels in postmassage urine sample s were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay . RESULTS At 6 weeks , the NIH-CPSI total score had decreased significantly in the EA group compared with the SEA and A&E groups ( P < .001 ) . On a subscale analysis of the NIH-CPSI , the EA group showed significant decreases in pain-related symptoms compared with the SEA and A&E groups ( P < .01 ) . All 12 EA participants experienced at least a 6-point decrease in the NIH-CPSI total score compared with 2 of 12 SEA participants ( 16.7 % ) and 3 of 12 A&E participants ( 25.0 % ; P < .0001 ) . The mean prostagl and in E(2 ) level in the postmassage urine sample s had significantly decreased in the EA group ( P = .023 ) . In contrast , it had increased in the other 2 groups . CONCLUSIONS In a 3-arm r and omized trial investigating the clinical effects of EA on CP/CPPS , EA therapy proved to have independent therapeutic effects , particularly for pain relief superior to SEA or A&E therapy BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to compare the pain-relieving effect and the subjective well-being between auricular electro-acupuncture ( EA ) analgesia , auricular acupuncture ( A ) and conventional analgesia with remifentanil ( CO ) . METHODS A total of 94 women undergoing IVF were r and omized to auricular acupuncture with ( EA , n = 32 ) or without ( A , n = 32 ) continuous 1 Hz auricular stimulation ( using a battery-powered miniaturized stimulator , P-Stim ) or with adhesive tapes instead of needles and no electrical stimulation ( control group , CO , n = 30 ) at the auricular acupuncture points 29 , 55 and 57 . All patients received patient-controlled analgesia ( PCA ) with remifentanil .  Pain intensity and psychological well-being were assessed by means of visual analogue scales ( VAS ) ; tiredness , nausea and vomiting and analgesic drug consumption were documented . RESULTS Pain relief and subjective well-being were significantly greater in group EA during and after the procedure as compared with groups A and CO ( P < 0.001 ) . The patients were significantly more tired in group CO than in groups A and EA ( P < 0.001 ) . Consumption of the opioid remifentanil was significantly lower in group EA , comparable nausea ( P < 0.001 ) . CONCLUSION Auricular EA significantly reduces pain intensity and analgesic consumption of the opioid remifentanil during oocyte aspiration in IVF treatment This open-label r and omized controlled trial was design ed to compare the efficacy of acupuncture and combined oral contraceptive ( COC ) pill in treating moderate-to-severe primary dysmenorrhea . Fifty-two participants were r and omly assigned to receive either acupuncture ( n = 27 ) or COC ( n = 25 ) for three menstrual cycles . Mefenamic acid was prescribed as a recue analgesic drug with both groups . The statistical approach used for efficacy and safety assessment s was intention-to-treat analysis . By the end of the study , both treatments had result ed in significant improvement over baselines in all outcomes , that is , maximal dysmenorrhea pain scores , days suffering from dysmenorrhea , amount of rescue analgesic used , and quality of life assessed by SF-36 question naire . Over the three treatment cycles , COC caused greater reduction in maximal pain scores than acupuncture , while improvements in the remaining outcomes were comparable . Responders were defined as participants whose maximal dysmenorrhea pain scores decreased at least 33 % below their baseline . Response rates following both interventions at the end of the study were not statistically different . Acupuncture commonly caused minimal local side effects but did not cause any hormone-related side effects as did COC . In conclusion , acupuncture is an alternative option for relieving dysmenorrhea , especially when COC is not a favorable choice OBJECTIVES To develop and test the safety and effectiveness of an acupressure garment ( the Relief Brief ) in decreasing the pain and symptom distress associated with dysmenorrhea . DESIGN A r and omized clinical trial applied a 2 ( Relief Brief use or control group ) x 3 ( baseline and two treatment measurement occasions ) mixed factorial design . PARTICIPANTS Sixty-one ( 61 ) women with moderately severe primary dysmenorrhea were r and omly assigned to the st and ard treatment control group  or the  Relief Brief acupressure device group after one pretreatment menses , with 58 women reporting the effect on their pain during two post-treatment menstrual cycles . The acupressure garment : The Relief Brief is a cotton Lycra panty brief with a fixed number of lower abdominal and lower back latex foam acupads that provide pressure to dysmenorrhea-relieving Chinese acupressure points . OUTCOME MEASURES Menstrual pain severity ( worst pain and symptom intensity ) , pain medication use , and adverse effects were analyzed using between-groups and repeated measures analyses of treatment effects . Statistical and clinical significance criteria were applied a priori . RESULTS For pain measures and pain medication use , the group main effect , time main effect and group x time interaction were statistically significant . Median pain medication use , the same for both groups at baseline ( 6 pills per day ) , dropped to 2 pills per day for the Relief Brief group but remained at 6 pills for the control group at the second treatment cycle . Predicted clinical significance criteria were surpassed : almost all ( 90 % ) women wearing the Relief Brief obtained at least a 25 % reduction in menstrual pain severity ( a 2 - 3 point drop ) compared to only 8 % of the control group ( z = 6.07 ; p < 0.05 ) . Relief Brief use was associated with at least a 50 % decline in menstrual pain symptom intensity in more than two thirds of the women . CONCLUSIONS An acupressure device is an effective and safe nonpharmacologic strategy for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea . With design modifications , it could serve as a main treatment modality for women who suffer from primary dysmenorrhea and do not wish to or can not use the conventional pharmacologic agents . In addition , this acupressure device may serve as an adjuvant therapy to medication in more severe cases of dysmenorrhea With approximately 25 % of dysmenorrheic patients reporting no improvement with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , a study was devised to evaluate the effectiveness of a laparoscopic technique for the interruption of the uterosacral nerves . In a double-blind study of 21 patients with primary dysmenorrhea , 81 % ( 9 of 11 ) reported significant relief from menstrual pain after the surgery . Performed as an outpatient procedure , laparoscopic uterine nerve ablation may alleviate dysmenorrheic complaints when other modalities have failed . Half the treated women reported continued relief of menstrual pain at 12 months . These results suggest that uterosacral nerve interruption may prove an effective alternative treatment for this menstrual disorder OBJECTIVE To compare the therapeutic effect of acupuncture and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ( NSAID ) therapy in primary dysmenorrhea patients . STUDY DESIGN Thirty-five young women with a diagnosis of primary dysmenorrhea were recruited for the study . Their dysmenorrhea severity was rated by visual analog scale ( VAS ) immediately prior to entry into the study . They were r and omly divided into two groups ; and the following month they were given NSAID ( group 1 , n=24 ) or acupuncture treatment ( group 2 , n=11 ) . Pain was rated again using VAS during menstruation in both groups . RESULTS After one month 's treatment , pain scores were significantly lower in both groups ( p<0.05 ) . Mean pain scores decreased by 52.2 % and 69.5 % in the NSAID and acupuncture groups , respectively . CONCLUSION Acupuncture was as effective as NSAID therapy for patients with primary dysmenorrhea . Since this was a pilot study with a small sample size and short follow-up period , larger studies are needed to clarify the effect of acupuncture in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea The aim was to study the effect of placebo EA , electroacupuncture ( EA ) , and diet on obesity and accompanying psychological symptoms . One hundred and sixty-five volunteer women participated in the study . There were three groups : ( i ) Placebo EA , ( ii ) EA , and ( iii ) diet restriction group . EA was performed by using three ear and six body points . There was a 4.8 % reduction in weight of patients with EA application , whereas patients with a diet restriction and placebo EA had a 2.5 % and 2.7 % weight reduction , respectively . There were significant decreases in phobia , anger , anxiety , obsession , paranoid symptoms , and depression in the EA groups compared to those of the placebo EA and diet groups . It was suggested that electroacupuncture may be an effective therapy for obesity including the psychological signs and symptoms in women BACKGROUND In a previous study on the effect of electro-acupuncture ( EA ) in combination with a paracervical block ( PCB ) as an analgesic method during oocyte aspiration in IVF treatment , EA appeared to increase the pregnancy rate . This study was design ed to test the hypothesis that EA as an analgesic during oocyte aspiration would result in : ( i ) a better IVF pregnancy rate than with alfentanil ; ( ii ) peroperative analgesia that was as good as that produced by alfentanil ; ( iii ) less postoperative abdominal pain , nausea and stress ; and ( iv ) a reduction in the use of additional analgesics . Neuropeptide Y ( NPY ) concentrations in follicular fluid ( FF ) were analysed when possible . METHODS AND RESULTS In this prospect i ve , r and omized , multicentre clinical trial , 286 women undergoing oocyte aspiration were r and omly allocated to the EA group ( EA plus a PCB ) or to the alfentanil group ( alfentanil plus a PCB ) . No significant differences were found between the EA and alfentanil groups in any of the IVF variables . NPY concentrations in FF were significantly higher in the EA group compared with the alfentanil group . No correlation between pregnancy rate and NPY concentrations was found in either analgesic group . Both EA plus a PCB and alfentanil plus a PCB induced adequate peroperative analgesia during oocyte aspiration evaluated using the visual analogue scale . After 2 h , the EA group reported significantly less abdominal pain , other pain , nausea and stress than the alfentanil group . In addition , the EA group received significantly lower amounts of additional alfentanil than the alfentanil group . CONCLUSION EA does not improve pregnancy rate in the present clinical situation . The observation that NPY concentrations in FF were higher in the EA group may be important for human ovarian steroidogenesis . The analgesic effects produced by EA are as good as those produced by conventional analgesics , and the use of opiate analgesics with EA is lower than when conventional analgesics alone are used BACKGROUND Arthralgia is a common and debilitating side-effect experienced by breast cancer patients receiving aromatase inhibitors ( AIs ) and often results in premature drug discontinuation . METHODS We conducted a r and omised controlled trial of electro-acupuncture ( EA ) as compared to waitlist control ( WLC ) and sham acupuncture ( SA ) in postmenopausal women with breast cancer who self-reported arthralgia attributable to AIs . Acupuncturists performed 10 EA/SA treatments over 8 weeks using a manualised protocol with 2 Hz electro-stimulation delivered by a TENS unit . Acupuncturists administered SA using Streitberger ( non-penetrating ) needles at non-traditional acupuncture points without electro-stimulation . The primary end-point was pain severity by Brief Pain Inventory ( BPI ) between EA and WLC at Week 8 ; durability of response at Week 12 and comparison of EA to SA were secondary aims . FINDINGS Of the 67 r and omly assigned patients , mean reduction in pain severity was greater in the EA group than in the WLC group at Week 8 ( -2.2 versus -0.2 , p=0.0004 ) and at Week 12 ( -2.4 versus -0.2 , p<0.0001 ) . Pain-related interference measured by BPI also improved in the EA group compared to the WLC group at both Week 8 ( -2.0 versus 0.2 , p=0.0006 ) and Week 12 ( -2.1 versus -0.1 , p=0.0034 ) . SA produced a magnitude of change in pain severity and pain-related interference at Week 8 ( -2.3 , -1.5 respectively ) and Week 12 ( -1.7 , -1.3 respectively ) similar to that of EA . Participants in both EA and SA groups reported few minor adverse events . INTERPRETATIONS Compared to usual care , EA produced clinical ly important and durable improvement in arthralgia related to AIs in breast cancer patients , and SA had a similar effect . Both EA and SA were safe BACKGROUND This study aim ed to evaluate the effects of noninvasive acupoint stimulation therapy with middle-frequency electrical waves on dysmenorrhea in young women . METHODS This r and omized controlled trial enrolled 66 gynecology patients who had primary dysmenorrhea , which was defined as painful menstruation without pelvic pathology ( secondary dysmenorrhea ) . Pathology was ruled out by gynecological ultrasound examination and serum concentration of CA-125 . Subjects were r and omly assigned to an experimental group ( n=34 ) and control group ( n=32 ) . Main outcome measures included McGill Question naire Short-form and numerical rating scale for pain intensity .  Acupuncture-like trancutaneous electrical nerve stimulation ( AL-TENS ) of middle-frequency ( 1000 Hz-10,000 Hz ) was applied at Hegu ( LI4 ) and Sanyinjiao ( SP6 ) points in the experimental group twice weekly for 8 weeks ; the control group received AL-TENS on nonacupoints . Pre- and postintervention results were recorded . RESULTS Prior to AL-TENS intervention , no significant differences were found in pain scale and pain intensity between experimental and control groups . After AL-TENS intervention , average total pain score in the experimental group was significantly lower than in the control group ( experimental group 2.9±1.2 , control group 5.4±2.2 ; p<0.001 ) . Significant differences were observed between experimental and control groups in average change in pain scores between pre- and postintervention ( experimental group 4.5±1.9 , control group 1.39±2.0 ; p<0.001 ) . Pain severity at postintervention was also significantly different between groups ( p<0.001 ) . CONCLUSIONS Noninvasive electro-acupuncture stimulation therapy with middle-frequency electric waves applied at both Hegu ( LI4 ) and Sanyinjiao ( SP6 ) acupoints mitigates pain in dysmenorrhea Background . Arthralgia affects postmenopausal women receiving aromatase inhibitors ( AIs ) for breast cancer . Given the existing evidence for electroacupuncture ( EA ) for treatment of osteoarthritis in the general population , this study aims to establish the feasibility of study ing EA for treating AI-related arthralgia . Patients and Methods . Postmenopausal women with stage I-III breast cancer who reported AI-related arthral gia were enrolled in a single-arm feasibility trial . EA was provided twice a week for 2 weeks followed by 6 weekly treatments . The protocol was based on Chinese medicine diagnosis of “ Bi ” syndrome with electrostimulation of needles around the painful joint(s ) . Pain severity of the modified Brief Pain Inventory was used as the primary outcome . Joint stiffness , joint interference , and Patient Global Impression of Change ( PGIC ) were secondary outcomes . Paired t tests were used for analysis . Results . Twelve women were enrolled and all provided data for analysis . From baseline to the end of intervention , patients reported reduction in pain severity ( from 5.3 to 1.9 ) , stiffness ( from 6.9 to 2.4 ) , and joint symptom interference ( from 4.7 to 0.8 ) , all P < .001 ; 11/12 considered joint symptoms “ very much better ” based on the PGIC . Subjects also reported significant decrease in fatigue ( from 4.4 to 1.9 , P = .005 ) and anxiety ( from 7.1 to 4.8 , P = .01 ) . No infection or development or worsening of lymphedema was observed . Conclusion . Preliminary data establish the feasibility of recruitment and acceptance as well as promising preliminary safety and effectiveness . A r and omized controlled trial is warranted to establish the efficacy of EA for AI-related arthralgia in breast cancer survivors
EA was superior to pharmacological treatment when the treatment duration lasted for three menstrual cycles , evidence d by significantly higher curative rate .
No statistically significant differences between EA at SP6 and control groups were found regarding the VRS , RSS-COX1 , and RSS-COX2 .
The findings of our study suggested that EA can provide considerable immediate analgesia effect for PD .
Electroacupuncture ( EA ) is considered to be a promising alternative therapy to relieve the menstrual pain for primary dysmenorrhea ( PD ) , but the conclusion is controversial .
Here , we conducted a systematic review and meta- analysis specifically to evaluate the clinical efficacy from r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) on the use of EA in patients with PD .