A randomised, placebo-controlled trial of manual and electrical acupuncture for the treatment of tinnitus. Complement Ther Med 2010; 18: 249-55.
AimTo examine the effectiveness of manual/electrical acupuncture in adults with tinnitus.
DesignSingle-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial with three parallel arms.
SettingAcupuncture clinic, Denmark.
ParticipantsFifty patients (46 men and four women), aged 30-70 years, who had suffered from tinnitus for more than 3 months, were recruited. Patients with severe heart diseases were excluded.
InterventionParticipants were randomly allocated to one of three groups: (1) manual acupuncture, (2) electro-acupuncture (EA), and (3) placebo. All three groups received a 25-min treatment once a week, for 6 weeks, with 14 needles placed on the same points: GB 8, TE 17, GB 2, GB 20, GV 20, TE 3 and ST 36. De qi was evoked once in the manual group. For the EA group, needles at GB 8 and TE 17 were connected to an electrical stimulator and stimulated by alternating frequency (2/100 Hz). Acupuncture needles in the placebo group had blunt tips and were inserted into elastic foam, which caused a pricking sensation when they touched the skin.
Main outcome measuresThe main outcomes were tinnitus occurrence (assessed on a five-point scale, ranging from 0 to +4), tinnitus intensity (measured on a four-point scale, ranging from 0 to +3), and quality of life (assessed on a four-point scale, ranging from 0 to +3). All outcomes were measured at baseline, after treatment (week six) and 1 month after treatment.
Main resultsThe daily occurrence of tinnitus decreased from baseline to week six in the EA group, though there were no significant differences between the three groups. The intensity of tinnitus reduced at both 6 weeks and 1 month follow-up in the EA group when compared to baseline, with a borderline significant decrease detected in the manual acupuncture group. However, there were no significant differences between groups. Quality of life also improved in the EA and manual acupuncture groups, though no significant intergroup differences were detected.Authors' conclusion 'In conclusion, the specific effects of reducing the tinnitus occurrence and tinnitus loudness were not detected. The treatment effects of the manual and electrical acupuncture were difficult to differentiate from the placebo control in the present study. However, electrical acupuncture showed some promising short-term general effects on tinnitus. Further carefully controlled research with bigger sample sizes and longer treatment periods are required.'
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