Perspectives on Integrative Medicine

Protocol

Study Protocol for a Systematic Review of the Methods and Reliability of Sham Electroacupuncture in Randomized Controlled Trials: Sung Min Lim; Perspect Integr Med. 2025;4(1):62-64. Published online February 21, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.56986/pim.2025.02.008

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Abstract PDF: Background
Electroacupuncture (traditional acupuncture combined with electrical stimulation) is used to treat various medical conditions. However, the lack of standardized sham electroacupuncture options (placebo controls) poses a challenge in ensuring the validity of the results gained from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). This study presents a protocol for a systematic review to evaluate the methods and validity of sham electroacupuncture used in RCTs.
Methods
To provide evidence for establishing an optimal control model for sham electroacupuncture, a systematic review will be conducted by searching major English language electronic databases (including PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) for studies published up to May 2024. RCTs that utilized sham electroacupuncture as a control group will be included. Two independent reviewers will screen the studies and extract the data, and the quality of the selected studies will be assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool 2. Frequency analysis will be conducted, and to assess blinding in RCTs the Blinding Index will be reported. This systematic review protocol is registered with PROSPERO (no.: CRD42024542514).
Results
/Conclusion: This systematic review will provide a comprehensive analysis of the methods and reliability of sham electroacupuncture in RCTs and thus help identify current practices and gaps. The findings may contribute to the development of standardized sham electroacupuncture controls and improve the design RCT in the future which will facilitate treatment validation of electroacupuncture.

Review Articles

The Safety and Effectiveness of Electroacupuncture for Labor Pain Relief: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Hyein Jeong, Jiwon Heo, Hyunsuk Park, Kyeong Han Kim; Perspect Integr Med. 2025;4(1):6-15. Published online February 21, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.56986/pim.2025.02.002

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Abstract PDF Supplementary Material: Background
Labor pain is among the most intense forms of pain, significantly impacting physical and psychological well-being. Although epidural anesthesia is effective, it has side effects and limited accessibility. Electroacupuncture (EA) offers a low-risk alternative. This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the safety and effectiveness of EA in relieving labor pain and duration.
Methods
Randomized controlled trials comparing EA with standard treatments, including epidural anesthesia, were identified through database searches up to August 2024. The primary outcome was pain reduction (assessed using the visual analog scale), and the secondary outcomes were labor duration (1^st and 2^nd stages), Apgar scores, and adverse effects.
Results
In the analysis there were 10 randomized controlled trials (involving 1,498 women in labor) included in this review. EA statistically significantly improved both the level of pain and reduced labor duration compared with those women who received standard treatments (p < 0.001). Apgar scores were assessed in 3 studies and determined that the physical condition of the delivered babies was not statistically significantly different between EA and standard treatment for labor pain. Study protocol indicated the recording of adverse effects in one of the ten studies. Adverse events in that study recorded mild localized discomfort (1.89%, n = 1).
Conclusion
EA reduced labor pain and duration, and demonstrated its potential as an alternative to the conventional approaches for managing labor pain. The limited data suggest EA is likely safe, but further research is needed to confirm its safety profile.

Trends in Clinical Research on Ultrasound-Guided Acupuncture: A Scoping Review: Sook-Hyun Lee, Yoon Jae Lee, Ju Yeon Kim, In Heo, Jae-Heung Cho, Byung-Kwan Seo, Yeoncheol Park, Jung-Hyun Kim, In-Hyuk Ha; Perspect Integr Med. 2024;3(3):152-161. Published online October 23, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.56986/pim.2024.10.004

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2 Citations

Graphical Abstract Abstract PDF Supplementary Material

Acupuncture is widely used to reduce pain and improve function in various conditions. Despite ongoing research in ultrasound-guided acupuncture, evidence supporting efficacy remains inconclusive. This study aimed to examine Korean and international research trends, clinical efficacy, and safety of ultrasound-guided acupuncture by performing a scoping review of clinical research on ultrasound-guided acupuncture. Literature searches were conducted across 11 databases, including all clinical studies published before April 2024, without restrictions on condition/disease or type of study. Of the 2,644 identified articles, 25 studies were selected for review, mostly involving patients with musculoskeletal pain, and post-stroke sequelae. Interventions included ultrasound-guided acupuncture, warming acupuncture, dry needling, and electroacupuncture. The effectiveness of ultrasound-guided acupuncture was evaluated using pain, functional disability, and effective rate as outcome measures, and most studies reported significant improvements. This study is the first scoping review to report on trends, clinical efficacy, and safety of ultrasound-guided acupuncture. While it demonstrates potential for treating musculoskeletal disorders, post-stroke sequelae, spinal injuries, and other conditions/diseases, research on its application remains limited to specific conditions/diseases. Furthermore, substantial variations were observed in types of acupuncture, application areas, and treatment frequencies. Future research should focus on high-quality randomized controlled trials with standardized ultrasound frequencies for specific conditions/diseases.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Efficacy of ultrasound-guided pharmacopuncture: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Jinho Lee, Sook-Hyun Lee, Yoon Jae Lee, Ju Yeon Kim, In Heo, Jae-Heung Cho, Byung-Kwan Seo, Dong Kun Ko, In-Hyuk Ha
Medicine.2025; 104(11): e41733. CrossRef
Ultrasound-guided acupuncture therapy in Korea: advancing traditional practices with new technology
Sang-ho Lee, You Suk Youn, Min Chul Kim, Junghum Sun, Donghyon Ha, Tae-Hun Kim
Frontiers in Medicine.2025;[Epub] CrossRef

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