Acupuncture for Soft Tissue Shoulder Disorders: A Series of 201 Cases

Abstract

A retrospective observational study was performed on shoulder pain cases seen in a community general practice. Two hundred and one patients were treated with acupuncture (on distant points plus local shoulder points), moxibustion and auriculotherapy. Data was retrieved from records over a three-year period to assess the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on pain, mobility and disability, and to compare perceived efficacy rates with published reports from Chinese acupuncturists. Using a four-point outcome scale in this series of 201 patients the study found: one patient (0.5%) reported no improvement, 12 (6%) simple improvement, 68 (33.8%) remarkable improvement, and 120 (59.7%) clinical resolution. Only two patients left the programme. In conclusion, treatment of soft tissue shoulder disorders with acupuncture and moxibustion in this series seems to have good clinical results in diminishing symptoms, shortening disease duration time and improving functional ability, even in long-lasting disease (up to 10 years). A combination of distant points plus local points, moxibustion and auriculotherapy seems to increase effectiveness, reduce the number of sessions per patient, and increase the time between sessions, suiting the needs of patients and those of a busy National Health Service clinic. The authors report results similar to those reported by Chinese acupuncturists when using similar diagnostic procedures, techniques, outcome measures and patients. This case series is the first step towards conducting a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of acupuncture efficacy in shoulder pain. Such trials are needed to confirm the perceived efficacy of acupuncture from observational studies.

Is Commercially Available Point Finder Accurate and Reliable in Detecting Active Auricular Acupuncture Points?

“…Although auricular somatotopic mappings may not be based on or supported by any medical or scientific evidence, auriculotherapy is commonly used to treat patients with substance abuse and musculoskeletal pain. [2][3][4][5][6] The stimulation techniques applied to the external auricle are similar to those used for acupuncture treatment. As a result, auriculotherapy is commonly considered a microsystem acupuncture therapy.…”

Rcts: Acupuncture for Oa Knee (N=97)

“…Williamson et al randomised 102 adult patients with hayfever and compared acupuncture with an invasive sham technique involving superficial needling over the middle of the patella. 1 In this trial both groups improved substantially, with no difference between them. Some time ago I was talking to Lyn Williamson about her trial, and she mentioned that in her old practice there were still some patients requesting the 'special knee acupuncture' to treat their hayfever symptoms each year, since it had apparently been so successful for them during the trial.…”

“…Vas et al reported a large case series (n=563) of acupuncture for OA knee in that issue. 1 In the above trial, the electroacupuncture was applied to local knee points: Xiyan (eyes of the knee), ST36, GB34, SP9; and de qi was elicited by manual needling at distant points: ST40, SP6, KI3 and LI4. The treatment period lasted for a total of 12 sessions.…”

Acupuncture at local and distal points for chronic shoulder pain: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

“…Disorders of the shoulder muscles and tendons (rotator cuff) are thought to be the most common causes of the pain [2]. The true prevalence is unknown, varying in different reports from 4 to 34% [3]. The conventional treatments for shoulder pain are NSAIDs, physiotherapy, cortisone injections and ‘wait and see’ [4,5].…”