Acupuncture and dry-needling for low back pain (Review)

3.1 Short-term follow-up (up
to 3 months after the end of
the sessions)
3.2 Intermediate-term
follow-up (3 months to 1 year)
4 limitation of activity (higher
values are worse)
4.1 Short-term follow-up (up
to 3 months after the end of
the sessions)
5 functional status (standardized
measures)
5.1 Short-term follow-up (up
to 3 months after the end of
the sessions)
5.2 Intermediate-term
follow-up (3 months to 1 year)
1 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Not estimable
1 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Not estimable
1 Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) Totals not selected
1 Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) Not estimable
2 Effect size (Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
2 90 Effect size (Random, 95% CI) 0.63 [0.19, 1.08]
1 40 Effect size (Random, 95% CI) 0.03 [-0.70, 0.76]
Comparison 5.
acupuncture versus placebo or sham intervention (Chronic LBP: > 3 months)
Outcome or subgroup title
No. of
studies
No. of
participants Statistical method Effect size
1 pain (lower values mean better) 5 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
1.1 Immediately after the end
of the sessions
4 314 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) -10.21 [-14.99, -
5.44]
1.2 Short-term follow-up (up
to 3 months after the end of
2 138 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) -17.79 [-25.50, -
10.07]
the sessions)
1.3 Intermediate-term
2 96 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) -5.74 [-14.72, 3.25]
follow-up (3 months to 1 year)
1.4 Long-term follow-up
(more than 1 year)
1 27 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) -12.0 [-41.83,
17.83]
2 global improvement (higher 6 Risk Ratio (M-H, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
values are better)
2.1 Immediately after the end 3 234 Risk Ratio (M-H, Random, 95% CI) 1.23 [1.04, 1.46]
of the sessions
2.2 Short-term follow-up (up 3 171 Risk Ratio (M-H, Random, 95% CI) 1.44 [0.92, 2.24]
to 3 months after the end of
the sessions)
2.3 Intermediate-term
1 40 Risk Ratio (M-H, Random, 95% CI) 1.19 [0.89, 1.60]
follow-up (3 months to 1 year)
2.4 Long-term follow-up 1 50 Risk Ratio (M-H, Random, 95% CI) 3.29 [0.85, 12.80]
(more than 1 year)
3 pain disability index (lower 1 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Totals not selected
values are better)
3.1 Immediately after the end
of the sessions
1 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Not estimable
Acupuncture and dry-needling for low back pain (Review)
Copyright © 2011 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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