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Published on: October 4, 2024
Acupressure for primary dysmenorrhoea: a systematic review
Seung-Hun Cho1, Eui-Whan Hwang
1Hospital of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea. chosh@khu.ac.kr
Complementary Therapies in Medicine
|February 25, 2010
Summary
Acupressure effectively alleviates menstrual pain and associated anxiety in women with primary dysmenorrhea. Further high-quality randomized controlled trials are recommended for robust evidence.
Area of Science:
- Integrative and Complementary Medicine
- Pain Management
- Women's Health
Background:
- Primary dysmenorrhea is a common gynecological condition characterized by painful menstruation.
- Symptomatic treatment often involves pharmacological interventions with potential side effects.
- Acupressure, a non-invasive therapy, is explored as an alternative pain relief method.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating acupressure for primary dysmenorrhea symptoms.
- To assess the efficacy and safety of acupressure in managing menstrual pain and related discomfort.
Main Methods:
- A systematic search of electronic databases (English, Korean, Japanese, Chinese) was conducted up to July 2008.
- Four RCTs involving 458 participants were included.
- Methodological quality was assessed using Cochrane Handbook criteria, focusing on randomization and allocation concealment.
Main Results:
- Two studies indicated significant pain reduction with acupressure compared to sham acupressure.
- Acupressure demonstrated effectiveness in reducing pain and anxiety associated with dysmenorrhea.
- One study reported superior pain reduction and decreased medication use compared to conventional treatments.
Conclusions:
- Current evidence suggests acupressure can alleviate menstrual pain in primary dysmenorrhea.
- The findings are limited by the small number of included trials and methodological concerns.
- Well-designed RCTs with robust randomization and allocation concealment are necessary to confirm efficacy.
