Immediate Pain Relief in Adhesive Capsulitis by Acupuncture—A Randomized Controlled Double-Blinded Study
Schröder S, Meyer-Hamme G, Friedemann T, Kirch S, Hauck M, Plaetke R, Friedrichs S, Gulati A, Briem D · Pain Medicine · 2017 March 20
DOI 10.1093/pm/pnx052
Objective
To investigate whether press tack needles can reduce pain in patients with AC, and thus be applied as an additional pain therapy, we conducted a prospective, single center, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial (two parallel arms) between January 2012 and December 2013.
Conclusions
The efficiency of distal needling acupuncture on immediate pain reduction was demonstrated in patients with AC and confirmed the applicability of press tack needles and press tack placebos for double-blind studies in acupuncture.
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Insights
Our study provides evidence that acupuncture has a specific impact on frozen shoulder beyond the placebo effects that may not only be beneficial in reducing short-term pain perception, but may also have a positive long-term influence on the time course of recovery.
Primary adhesive capsulitis ("frozen shoulder") is a common disorder associated with pain and significant morbidity in humans worldwide. This first double-blinded (patient- and observer-blinded) study in patients with AC showed the efficiency of our special distal needling protocol by systematic combination of acupoints for immediate pain reduction. The study also confirmed the suitability of press tack needles and press tack placebos as an effective option for double-blind studies in acupuncture. The follow-up clinical observation with classical needle acupuncture confirmed that results obtained with the press tack placebos/press tack needles design can be transferred to classical needle acupuncture. Furthermore, conservative therapy that included acupuncture represented a superior effectiveness on the time course of recovery in AC patients compared with patients treated with conservative therapy alone in a standard clinical setting.
Related insights
- Massage combined with acupuncture can better improve the range of motion of joints and daily living ability of patients with frozen shoulder complicated with cervical spondylosis.
- Acupuncture could be safe and effective for pain reduction, restoring shoulder function, and restoring flexion range of motion for frozen shoulder patients in the short term and midterm.
- Guidelines have been developed for treating frozen shoulder using traditional Chinese medicine, with multiple therapies such as acupuncture and exercise recommended.
- Acupuncture is safe and may be a cost-effective treatment for shoulder pain.
- Electroacupuncture may be more effective than manual acupuncture for managing frozen shoulder, with larger effect sizes in terms of pain, function, and response rate.
- Acupuncture, in its various forms, shows significant potential in alleviating pain and improving shoulder function in patients with rotator cuff disorders.
- Acupuncture has been shown to significantly improve pain, disability, and quality of life for patients with shoulder impingement syndrome.
- Acupuncture appears to have positive effects in pain relief and functional recovery after rotator cuff surgery.
