Acupuncture in medicine : journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society
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Pain is one of the principal symptoms for which the general public seeks medical attention, and it is frequently treated by GPs. Although acupuncture is mainly practised in the private field, it enjoys growing acceptance in the public system too, which helps bring down the high cost of its use. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture and related techniques in treating non-oncological pain during nine years of activity at the Pain Treatment Unit (PTU) within the Andalusian Public Health System (Spain) in the field of primary healthcare. ⋯ Acupuncture seems to be effective in treating musculoskeletal pain, and presents no severe adverse events. With acupuncture treatment, the consumption of analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs is considerably reduced.
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The aim of this study was to evaluate the evidence for the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of anxiety and anxiety disorders by systematic review of the relevant research. ⋯ Positive findings are reported for acupuncture in the treatment of generalised anxiety disorder or anxiety neurosis but there is currently insufficient research evidence for firm conclusions to be drawn. No trials of acupuncture for other anxiety disorders were located. There is some limited evidence in favour of auricular acupuncture in perioperative anxiety. Overall, the promising findings indicate that further research is warranted in the form of well designed, adequately powered studies.
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Evidence on the efficacy of acupuncture for reducing the pain and dysfunction of osteoarthritis is equivocal. ⋯ Acupuncture seems to provide improvement in function and pain relief as an adjunctive therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee when compared with credible sham acupuncture and education control groups.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Relief of low back pain immediately after acupuncture treatment--a randomised, placebo controlled trial.
The purpose of this study was to examine the immediate effect of single acupuncture stimulation to the most painful point in patients with low back pain. ⋯ These results suggest that acupuncture at the most painful point gives immediate relief of low back pain.
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Myofascial trigger points are commonly described in humans, and many studies have shown abnormal spontaneous electrical activity, spike activity and local twitch responses at these sites. Myofascial trigger points have only rarely been described in horses, and studies of their electrophysiological characteristics have not previously been published. The objective of this study was to explore the electromyographic (EMG) and other characteristics of myofascial trigger points in equine muscle, and to compare them with normal muscle tissue. ⋯ Equine myofascial trigger points can be identified, and have similar objective signs and electrophysiological properties to those documented in human and rabbit skeletal muscle tissue. The important differences from findings in human studies are that referred pain patterns and the reproduction of pain profile cannot be determined in animals.