Acupuncture, when combined with traditional medicine, can potentially improve the quality of life and disability status for individuals with Multiple Sclerosis.
The methodology of this study involved an extensive review of existing clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture as a treatment for Multiple Sclerosis. Researchers used multiple databases, including PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, and Web of Science, in addition to four Chinese-language databases, gray literature, and registered clinical research. They assessed the risk of bias using the RoB 2 system and conducted a meta-analysis, subgroup analysis, and meta-regression using the STATA 15.1 software. They also employed the GRADE approach to gauge the certainty of evidence they collected and analyzed.
The results of the analysis displayed that acupuncture, in conjunction with medicine, seems more effective in improving disability status and enhancing the quality of life, compared to medicine alone. Adverse events related to acupuncture were both rare and mild among study participants, implying relative safety of this treatment method. However, due to noteworthy heterogeneity among the studies reviewed, the certainty of the evidence remains generally low, cautioning a reserved interpretation of the conclusions.
