Acupuncture for Lateral Epicondylitis: A Systematic Review.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Integrative Medicine
• Evidence-Based Medicine

Background:

• Lateral epicondylitis (LE), commonly known as tennis elbow, is a prevalent condition causing elbow pain and functional limitation.
• Current treatment options for LE have varying degrees of effectiveness and potential side effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize the available evidence on the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for treating lateral epicondylitis.
• To assess the quality of evidence supporting acupuncture interventions for LE.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive search of seven databases and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform was conducted.
• Data from four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 309 participants were extracted and analyzed.
• Effect estimates were synthesized using Review Manager Software, with the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system used to assess evidence quality.

Main Results:

• Acupuncture and acupuncture plus moxibustion showed potential improvements in elbow functional status and myodynamia.
• The included studies were of poor methodological quality, with evidence quality rated as very low to low.
• Needle pain was reported as the primary reason for participant dropout in two studies.

Conclusions:

• Due to the limited number of low-quality studies, definitive conclusions regarding the efficacy of acupuncture for lateral epicondylitis cannot be drawn.
• Further high-quality research is warranted to establish the role of acupuncture in LE management.