Search for the clinical effectiveness of Korean Tae-Geuk acupuncture therapy in chronic tension-type headache

Acupuncture for tension-type headache: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

“…Through reading full texts, 26 studies were excluded, and the reasons for exclusion are listed in Appendix 2 . We included an article ( 47 ) as a supplement to Zhang ( 34 ), a total of 30 RCTs ( 21 – 23 , 27 – 36 , 48 – 64 ) involving 2,742 participants were included (1,349 in the intervention group and 1,393 in the control group) ( Figure 1 ).…”

“…The average age of patients varied from 31 to 58 years old. The trials were conducted in 7 countries [China ( 23 , 27 , 28 , 30 – 32 , 34 – 36 , 51 – 56 , 62 , 63 ) ( n = 17), Germany ( 21 , 22 , 33 , 58 ) ( n = 4), Korea ( 29 , 59 ) ( n = 2), Sweden ( 48 , 60 ) ( n = 2), England ( 49 , 61 ) ( n = 2), Brazil ( 57 ) ( n = 1), Australia ( 50 ) ( n = 1), and Turkey ( 64 ) ( n = 1)]. Among the included studies, two were cross-over RCTs ( 50 , 57 ).…”

“…The treatment duration of acupuncture ranged from 1 week ( 29 ) to 12 weeks ( 60 ). A total of 16 RCTs ( 21 – 23 , 28 – 30 , 33 , 36 , 48 , 49 , 54 , 56 , 58 – 60 , 64 ) observed the effect of follow-up, the follow-up period was from 1 week ( 29 ) to 40 weeks ( 48 ). Among included studies, 1 study was four-arm trial ( 33 ), 3 RCTs were three-arm ( 22 , 60 , 64 ), the rest studies were two-arm.…”

“…A total of 16 RCTs ( 21 – 23 , 28 – 30 , 33 , 36 , 48 , 49 , 54 , 56 , 58 – 60 , 64 ) observed the effect of follow-up, the follow-up period was from 1 week ( 29 ) to 40 weeks ( 48 ). Among included studies, 1 study was four-arm trial ( 33 ), 3 RCTs were three-arm ( 22 , 60 , 64 ), the rest studies were two-arm. With regard to comparison, 16 studies applied medication [ antidepressant ( 28 , 34 , 36 , 53 , 55 , 56 ), muscle relaxant ( 27 , 30 , 31 , 35 , 52 , 62 ), analgesics ( 32 , 51 ), antidepressant plus analgesics ( 63 , 64 )], 12 studies used sham acupuncture ( 21 – 23 , 29 , 48 – 50 , 57 – 59 , 61 , 64 ), 2 applied exercise ( 33 , 60 ), 1 utilized relaxation training ( 60 ), 1 applied usual care ( 33 ), 1 was waiting list ( 22 ), 1 was acupuncture plus exercise ( 33 ), and 1 adopted sham acupuncture plus medication ( 54 ).…”

“…Among included studies, 1 study was four-arm trial ( 33 ), 3 RCTs were three-arm ( 22 , 60 , 64 ), the rest studies were two-arm. With regard to comparison, 16 studies applied medication [ antidepressant ( 28 , 34 , 36 , 53 , 55 , 56 ), muscle relaxant ( 27 , 30 , 31 , 35 , 52 , 62 ), analgesics ( 32 , 51 ), antidepressant plus analgesics ( 63 , 64 )], 12 studies used sham acupuncture ( 21 – 23 , 29 , 48 – 50 , 57 – 59 , 61 , 64 ), 2 applied exercise ( 33 , 60 ), 1 utilized relaxation training ( 60 ), 1 applied usual care ( 33 ), 1 was waiting list ( 22 ), 1 was acupuncture plus exercise ( 33 ), and 1 adopted sham acupuncture plus medication ( 54 ). The most commonly used acupoints were Baihui (GV20), Taiyang (EX-HN5), Fengchi (GB20), Hegu (LI4), Yintang (GV29), Taichong (LR3), Neiguan (PC6), Zusanli (ST36), and “Ashi” points ( Appendix 3 ).…”