Adding traditional Korean manual therapy to pregabalin showed the greatest improvement in chemotherapy-related nerve symptoms, with few reported side effects.
Adults with breast or colorectal cancer experiencing chemotherapy-related peripheral nerve symptoms were allocated to receive pregabalin alone, pregabalin plus electroacupuncture, or pregabalin plus traditional Korean manual therapy. Treatments were delivered over five weeks, followed by a four-week observation period. Symptom change was assessed using a cancer treatment-related neurotoxicity questionnaire, and adverse effects and treatment adherence were monitored.
The combination of pregabalin and traditional Korean manual therapy produced the largest reduction in nerve symptom burden compared with pregabalin alone or pregabalin combined with electroacupuncture, although the differences between groups were not statistically significant. Reported adverse effects in the manual therapy group were limited to a bruise and a headache, while adherence and retention were high across treatments.
