A Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing the Effectiveness of Electroacupuncture versus Medium‐Frequency Electrotherapy for Discogenic Sciatica

Abstract

Objective. To investigate the short- and long-term effects of electroacupuncture (EA) compared with medium-frequency electrotherapy (MFE) on chronic discogenic sciatica. Methods. One hundred participants were randomized into two groups to receive EA (n = 50) or MFE (n = 50) for 4 weeks. A 28-week follow-up of the two groups was performed. The primary outcome measure was the average leg pain intensity. The secondary outcome measures were the low back pain intensity, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), patient global impression (PGI), drug use frequency, and EA acceptance. Results. The mean changes in the average leg pain numerical rating scale (NRS) scores were 2.30 (1.86–2.57) and 1.06 (0.62–1.51) in the EA and MFE groups at week 4, respectively. The difference was significant (P < 0.001). The long-term follow-up resulted in significant differences. The average leg pain NRS scores decreased by 2.12 (1.70–2.53) and 0.36 (−0.05–0.78) from baseline in the EA and MFE groups, respectively, at week 28. However, low back pain intensity and PGI did not differ significantly at week 4. No serious adverse events occurred. Conclusions. EA showed greater short-term and long-term benefits for chronic discogenic sciatica than MFE, and the effect of EA was superior to that of MFE. The study findings warrant verification. This trial was registered under identifier ChiCTR-IPR-15006370.

Preliminary Clinical Evaluation of Acupuncture Therapy in Patients With Postpartum Sciatica

“…The results of this preliminary clinical study suggest that the analgesic action of acupuncture could be effective for postpartum sciatica, as manifested by the lower RDQ and VAS scores, and the higher patient‐reported prevalence of perceived recovery in the acupuncture group. While existing research has demonstrated that acupuncture is effective for sciatica in general, to our knowledge, this is the first report on acupuncture treatment for postpartum sciatica.…”

“…Particularly for sciatica, many studies have reported that acupuncture may be more effective than drugs in relieving leg pain and lumbago and improving global assessment

of sciatica and showed short‐term and long‐term benefits for this common disorder. Importantly, acupuncture has been demonstrated to be relatively safe and rarely associated with serious adverse effects in patients with sciatica .…”

“…However, because the theory of TCM, on which acupuncture therapy is based, is fundamentally different from that of Western medicine, the mechanism of acupuncture analgesia based on the principles of Western medicine is still unclear. 14 Particularly for sciatica, many studies [15][16][17] have reported that acupuncture may be more effective than drugs in relieving leg pain and lumbago and improving global assessment ✦ Postpartum sciatica is not uncommon in clinical practice, but treatments such as analgesic drugs and surgery are often contraindicated in this period due to concerns about their potential risks to breastfed infants and maternal milk production.…”

<p>Therapeutic Efficacy and the Impact of the “Dose” Effect of Acupuncture to Treat Sciatica: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study</p>

“…7,12 Some clinical trials and meta-analyses have recently contributed more evidence regarding acupuncture treatment for sciatica. [16][17][18] He et al, in their study of post-partum sciatica, revealed that up to 98% of patients in the treatment group recovered, compared with 24% in the non-acupuncture control group. 16 Zhang et al showed electroacupuncture had greater short-and long-term benefits for chronic discogenic sciatica than medium-frequency electrotherapy.…”

“…16 Zhang et al showed electroacupuncture had greater short-and long-term benefits for chronic discogenic sciatica than medium-frequency electrotherapy. 17 Qiu et al also demonstrated that acupuncture may stimulate the sciatic nerve trunk and effectively relieve pain in patients with discogenic sciatica. 18 Moreover, acupuncture may reduce sciatica pain intensity, increase the pain threshold, 19 enhance the effects of drug, and improve outcomes.…”