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http://dx.doi.org/10.18325/jkmr.2022.32.2.105

The Effect of Electro Acupuncture for Sciatica: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis  

Kim, Ye-Eun (Department of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation, Korean Medicine Hospital of Sangji)
Ahn, Jeong-Hoon (Department of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation, Korean Medicine Hospital of Sangji)
Cha, Yun-Yeop (Department of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation, Korean Medicine Hospital of Sangji)
Han, In-Sik (Department of Korean Internal Medicine, Korean Medicine Hospital of Sangji)
Heo, In (Department of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation, Pusan National University Korean Medicine Hospital)
Park, In-Hwa (Department of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation, Korean Medicine Hospital of Sangji)
Publication Information
Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation / v.32, no.2, 2022 , pp. 105-121 More about this Journal
Abstract
Objectives This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of electro-acupuncture for sciatica. Methods We searched 13 online databases (Kmbase, Research Information Sharing Service [RISS], National Digital Science Library [NDSL], Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System [OASIS], Koreanstudies, Koreantk, DBpia, PubMed, Cochrane, EMBASE, Medline, China National Knowledge Infrastructure [CNKI], J-stage) to find randomized-controlled clinical trials (RCTs) that used electro-acupuncture for sciatica. Efficacy rate and visual analogue scale (VAS) were mainly analyzed as a main evaluation criteria. Results Among 583 articles that were searched, 24 RCTs were finally selected and 18 RCTs were statistically analyzed. Electro-acupuncture was more effective than acupuncture in terms of efficacy rate (p<0.00001) and VAS (p<0.00001). Also, Electro-acupuncture was more effective than western medication in terms of efficacy rate (p=0.0005). However, the effectiveness of electro-acupuncture was not identified compared to physical therapy (p=0.42). Electro-acupuncture significantly improved efficacy rate when combined with physical therapy than physical therapy alone (p<0.0001). In addition, electro-acupuncture plus Chuna manual therapy compared to Chuna manual therapy alone showed positive results for efficacy rate (p=0.05) and VAS (p<0.0001). Conclusions Based on results, the effectiveness of electro-acupuncture for sciatica was identified. However, this study has limitations because the RCTs included in this study were small in number and published in a particular region. Although this study could be a groundwork for well designed research for sciatica.
Keywords
Electroacupuncture; Sciatica; Systematic review; Randomized controlled trial; Meta-analysis;
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