|
| First author | Sample size (observation/control) | Dropout rate | Intervention (in the observation group) | Intervention (in the control group) | Course of treatment | The main outcomes |
|
| Irnich et al. [16] | 50 (25/25) | None | Verum acupuncture: LI 4, LI 10, SJ 5, SI 3, GB 34 | Sham acupuncture: points: one thumb, with away from those used in the observation group | 3 treatments within 10 days | Pressure pain threshold (PPT)
Pain-free grip strength (GS)
NRS (same to VAS, assessment on pain on 0–10 scale)
All assessments after treatments and 14-day follow-up |
|
| Fink et al. [17] | 45 (23/22) | 3 at 2-week and 2 more at 2-month follow-up | Verum acupuncture: LI 10, LI 11, Lu 5, LI 4, SJ 5, one A-Shi point | Sham acupuncture: points: 5 cm away from the points used in the observation group | 10 treatments 2 times/week within 5 weeks | Pain reduction percentage
VAS (pain assessed at rest, in motion, during exertion, and frequency on 0–5 scale)
Functional impairment assessed with DASH questionnaire
All assessments after treatments and 2-month follow-up |
|
| Molsberger and Hille [15] | 48 (24/24) | None | Verum acupuncture: GB 34 (on ipsilateral leg) | Sham acupuncture: (stimulation with pencil-like probe to simulate needle insertion)
Acupuncture point UB 13 | 1 treatment | Clinical efficacy rate
VAS (pain assessed on 0–10 scale)
Pain relief score |
|
| Haker and Lundeberg [18] | 82 (44/38) | 4 after 10th treatment
Another 5 at 3 months | Verum acupuncture: LI 10, LI 11, LI 12, Lu 5, SJ 10 | Sham acupuncture: same acupoints but superficial needle insertion | 10 treatments in all 2-3 times/week | Clinical efficacy rate, the vigorimeter test
Assessments after treatments, at 3-month and 1-year follow-up |
|
| Liao Leshan [19] | 60 (30/30) | None | Acupuncture therapy: LI10, SJ 5, LI 4, LI 12 (affected side), once a day, 2 weeks | Blocking therapy: local injection of 0.5 ml triamcinolone acetate A injection plus 3 ml lidocaine, once a week, 2 weeks | 10 treatments in the observation group
3 treatments in the control group | Clinical efficacy rate |
| Zhang Xiaoyang and Huang [20] | 60 (30/30) | None | Acupuncture therapy: LI11, LI10, LI13, LI 1, Ah-Shi, LI3 once every other day, 2 weeks | Blocking therapy: local injection of 1% 4 ml lidocaine injection and 1 ml prednisolone at tenderness point and LI11 once for ten days, 2 weeks | 10 treatments in the observation group
2 treatments in the control group | Clinical efficacy rate,
VAS (pain assessed on 0–10 scale)
Elbow joint activity score (rotation function assessed on 0–8 scale)
All assessments after first therapy, all treatments and at 1-month follow-up |
|
| Min [21] | 72 (36/36) | None | Acupuncture therapy: points: the most tenderness point, three points around the tenderness points, and LI11. Once every other day, 2 weeks | Blocking therapy: local injection of 2% 1.5 ml procaine injection and 5 ml prednisolone suspension at tenderness point once for ten days, 2 weeks | 10 treatments in the observation group
2 treatments in the control group | Clinical efficacy rate
VAS (pain assessed on 0–10 scale)
Both assessments after treatments and 2-month follow-up |
|
| Hongrui [14] | 235 (147/88) | None | Acupuncture therapy: LI4, LI7, LI9, LI10 (affected side) once a day, 3 times a week, 3 weeks | Blocking therapy: local injection of 1% 4 ml lidocaine injection and 50 mg prednisolone at tenderness point, once a week, 3 weeks | 9 treatments in the observation group
3 treatments in the control group | Clinical efficacy rate |
|
| Yuanli [22] | 84 (42/42) | None | Electroacupuncture therapy: cervical Jiaji 5–7 (EX-B2, affected side), SI 11, A-Shi points, LI 11, LI 10, SJ 5 once a day, 5 times a week, 2 weeks | Drug therapy group: oral meloxicam tablets 7.5 mg once a day for 2 weeks | 10 treatments in the observation group
14 treatments in the drug group | Clinical efficacy rate
VAS (pain assessed on 0–10 scale)
Elbow function score scale (function assessed on 0–100 scale) |
|
| Hui [13] | 60 (30/30) | None | Acupuncture therapy: points: 4 points at 0.5 cm away from the tenderness point at 3, 6, 9, 12 o’clock, once every other day, 2 weeks | Drug therapy group: oral celecoxib capsules 200 mg and external application of votalin ointment twice a day, 2 weeks | 7 times in the observation group
28 times in the drug group | Clinical efficacy rate
VAS (pain assessed on 0–10 scale)
Both assessments after treatments and 3-month follow-up |
|
