WHAT'S
NEW.
The state of the evidence in medical acupuncture. Editorial curation by the team of specialist physicians of the CEIMEC.
Electroacupuncture for Chronic Functional Constipation: Large-Scale Randomized Trial Shows Sustained Increase in Bowel Movement Frequency
Multicenter trial published in Annals of Internal Medicine followed patients with chronic functional constipation and demonstrated clinically significant benefit of electroacupuncture over sham electroacupuncture, with effect maintained after 12 weeks of follow-up.
Scalp Acupuncture (Craniopuncture) in Post-Stroke Rehabilitation: Systematic Review Shows Adjunctive Benefit on Motor Function
Systematic review brings together randomized clinical trials on scalp acupuncture — including the Yamamoto and Zhu schools — combined with conventional post-stroke rehabilitation, with consistent signals of improvement on motor scales (Fugl-Meyer, MAS) and functional scales (Barthel, mRS).
Dry Needling for Patellar Tendinopathy (Jumper’s Knee): Adjuvant Signals to a Progressive Eccentric Exercise Program
Systematic review of small randomized clinical trials suggests that dry needling at quadriceps trigger points may act as an adjuvant to a progressive eccentric exercise program for patellar tendinopathy, with improvement in VISA-P and pain scales.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
114
Dry Needling at Cervical Trigger Points for Mechanical Neck Pain: Meta-Analysis Shows Pain Reduction and Range-of-Motion Gain
Systematic review of randomized clinical trials points to benefit of dry needling at trigger points of the cervical and scapular musculature for mechanical neck pain and cervical myofascial pain syndrome, with reduction of pain (VAS) and improvement in range of motion and function (NDI).
Dry Needling for Chronic Plantar Fasciitis: Meta-Analysis Shows Pain Reduction with Medium-Term Advantage Over Corticosteroid Infiltration
Systematic review of randomized clinical trials points out that dry needling at trigger points of the intrinsic foot musculature and the calf reduces pain in chronic plantar fasciitis, with medium- and long-term advantage (3-6 months) over corticosteroid infiltration.
Dry Needling for Post-Stroke Spasticity: Meta-Analysis Shows Acute Reduction of Tone on MAS and Tardieu Scales
Systematic review of randomized clinical trials points to acute effect of dry needling on post-stroke spasticity, with reduction on the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and Tardieu Scale, with relevant short-term magnitude and emerging data on the durability of the effect when combined with active rehabilitation.
Dry Needling for Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow): Meta-Analysis Suggests Benefit on Pain and Function, with Magnitude Comparable to Structured Physical Therapy
Systematic review of randomized clinical trials points to benefit of dry needling at myofascial trigger points of the forearm for lateral epicondylitis, with reduction of pain (VAS) and functional improvement (PRTEE) compared with isolated physical therapy — methodologic caveats remain.
Acupuncture for Peripheral Vestibular Vertigo and Ménière’s Disease: Meta-Analysis Suggests Adjuvant Benefit
Systematic review of randomized clinical trials points to adjuvant benefit of acupuncture in the management of peripheral vestibular vertigo — including Ménière’s disease — when combined with conventional therapy, with reduction of episode frequency and improvement on functional scales (DHI).
Acupuncture for Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy: Meta-Analysis Shows Pain Reduction and Functional Improvement Comparable to Structured Physical Therapy
Systematic review of randomized clinical trials points to benefit of acupuncture — manual, electro, and dry needling — in patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy, with reduction of pain scales (VAS) and improvement of functional scores (Constant-Murley, SPADI) compared with isolated conservative treatment.
Acupuncture for Post-COVID-19 Syndrome (Long COVID): Systematic Review Points to Benefits in Fatigue, Sleep, and Respiratory Symptoms
Meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials published between 2021 and 2024 gathers favorable evidence for the use of acupuncture as adjuvant therapy for post-COVID-19 syndrome, with consistent signals in persistent fatigue, sleep quality, and residual respiratory symptoms.
Acupuncture for Acute Bell’s Palsy: Cochrane Review Points to Positive Signals with Need for Higher-Quality Trials
The Cochrane review on acupuncture in acute Bell’s palsy (Chen et al., 2010 — current Cochrane update on this question) identifies favorable findings on facial function scales (House-Brackmann, Sunnybrook), with important methodologic caveats; in more recent primary trials, combination with standard corticotherapy has shown the best results.
Acupuncture for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: Meta-Analysis Shows Reduction in Sensory Symptoms and Improvement in Nerve Conduction Velocity
Systematic review of randomized clinical trials points to benefit of acupuncture — manual and electro — in patients with painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy, with reduction on neuropathic pain scales and improvement in electrophysiologic parameters compared with medication treatment alone.
Acupuncture for Classical Trigeminal Neuralgia: Meta-Analysis Points to Adjuvant Benefit Added to Carbamazepine, with Important Limitations
Systematic review of randomized clinical trials suggests that acupuncture adjuvant to carbamazepine may reduce intensity and frequency of attacks in classical trigeminal neuralgia, with additional effect on quality-of-life scales — relevant methodologic caveats remain.
Acupuncture for Postherpetic Neuralgia: Meta-Analysis Points to Reduced Pain Intensity in Combination with Pharmacologic Treatment
Systematic review of randomized clinical trials suggests that acupuncture — manual, electro-, and cupping therapy — combined with gabapentinoids or tricyclic antidepressants may reduce pain intensity in patients with established postherpetic neuralgia, with modest to moderate effect magnitude.
PC-6 (Neiguan) Stimulation Reduces Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting: Update of the Cochrane Review
Stimulation of point PC-6 — by needle, acupressure, or transcutaneous neurostimulation — is among the best-documented non-pharmacologic interventions in anesthesiology, with a Cochrane review supporting reduction of PONV incidence compared with placebo, with a high safety profile.
Acupuncture for Oral Mucositis in Cancer Patients: Systematic Review Points to Reduced Severity and Improved Pain
Meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials suggests moderate benefit of acupuncture — manual, electro-, and laser over acupoints — in reducing oral mucositis severity in patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy, with parallel improvement in pain scales and oral intake.
Adjuvant Acupuncture for Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD/NAFLD): Meta-Analysis Points to Modest Signals on Liver Markers
Systematic review of randomized clinical trials suggests that acupuncture adjuvant to dietary measures and physical activity may contribute to modest reductions in liver markers (ALT, AST), lipid profile, and anthropometric measures in patients with MASLD/NAFLD.
Acupuncture and Acupressure for Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy: Update of Systematic Reviews
Cochrane reviews and subsequent meta-analyses have accumulated evidence of moderate benefit from PC-6 stimulation — by needle or acupressure — for mild-to-moderate symptoms of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, with a safety profile appropriate for obstetric use.
Adjuvant Acupuncture in COPD: Meta-Analysis Suggests Benefit for Dyspnea and Quality of Life (mMRC, CAT, SGRQ)
Systematic review of randomized controlled trials suggests a moderate effect of adjuvant acupuncture on top of standard COPD treatment on dyspnea scales (mMRC), impact assessment (CAT), and disease-specific quality of life (SGRQ), with no relevant changes in FEV1.
Acupuncture for Primary Dysmenorrhea: Meta-Analyses Confirm Clinically Relevant Reduction in Menstrual Pain
Systematic reviews gathering dozens of randomized clinical trials consolidate acupuncture — manual, electro, and auricular — as an effective intervention for primary menstrual pain, with reductions on visual analog scales (VAS) superior to sham and comparable to NSAIDs in head-to-head studies.
Acupuncture for Alopecia Areata: Limited Evidence with Modest Signals in Asian Trials
Meta-analyses of predominantly Asian small randomized controlled trials suggest a modestly higher repigmentation rate in groups that received acupuncture as an adjunct to topical or intralesional corticosteroid. The evidence remains preliminary, and trials in Western populations are needed.
Santos Hosts the XXX International Acupuncture Congress of CMBA and the VIII Pain Congress in November 2026
On November 27 and 28, the Brazilian Medical College of Acupuncture (CMBA/AMB) brings together, at the Sheraton Hotel in Santos, the largest gathering of the specialty in the country — with a scientific program dedicated to medical acupuncture and pain medicine.
Non-Pharmacologic Therapies for Knee Osteoarthritis: Network Meta-Analysis of 139 Randomized Clinical Trials and 9,644 Patients
Network meta-analysis published in PLOS One with 139 RCTs and 9,644 patients compares 12 physical interventions for knee OA: knee brace leads for pain and function, hydrotherapy stands out for general health, and exercise consistently maintains a favorable position among the most studied.
Non-Pharmacologic Interventions for Chronic Pain Comorbid with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 30 Randomized Clinical Trials
Published in PAIN, a review with 3,245 patients confirms that only therapies focused on trauma (TF-CBT, EMDR, NET) produce simultaneous and significant effects on chronic pain and PTSD — interventions centered exclusively on pain did not reach statistical significance.
Single-Session Behavioral Interventions for Chronic Pain: Meta-Analysis of 17 Randomized Clinical Trials
Systematic review published in the Journal of Pain confirms that brief single-session psychological interventions produce significant effects on pain, functional interference, catastrophizing, and emotional symptoms in adults with chronic pain.
Efficacy of Exercise for Osteoarthritis: Umbrella Review of Systematic Reviews in RMD Open
Umbrella review published in RMD Open (BMJ Group) synthesizes evidence from multiple systematic reviews and concludes that physical exercise produces small to moderate beneficial effects on pain and function in osteoarthritis — with benefits that tend to wane after exercise discontinuation.
Aerobic Exercise for Fibromyalgia: Network Meta-Analysis of 20 Randomized Clinical Trials Compares 8 Modalities
Published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine, a network meta-analysis with 1,196 patients ranks swimming (best for general health), Liuzijue (best for pain and sleep), and walking (best for depressive mood) among eight aerobic modalities for fibromyalgia.