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Table 3 Characteristics of included trials of electro-acupuncture for pain relief in patients with knee osteoarthritis

From: Short-term efficacy of physical interventions in osteoarthritic knee pain. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised placebo-controlled trials

First author, publication year

Type

No of patients on active therapy (n = 121)

Method quality

Treatment period (weeks)

Mean baseline pain (mm VAS)

Best mean difference (95% CI) of change over placebo (mm VAS)

Outcome assessment timepoints (weeks, best time point used in bold)

Sangdee-03

Maximal tolerable intensity

48

5

4

66.9

25.0 (15.2 to 34.8)

4, 8, 12

Vas-04

Maximal tolerable intensity

48

4

12

58.9

25.0 (13.4 to 36.6)

12

Yurtkuran-99

Maximal tolerable intensity

25

3

2

-

20.0 (14.1 to 25.9)

2

12 weeks Global improved

 

48

   

2.1 (1.1 to 4.1) Relative Risk

 

Best within 4 weeks

 

73

4*

 

62.9†

21.3† (16.3 to 26.3)

3*

Total

 

121

4*

 

62.9†

21.9† (17.3 to 25.3)

3*

  1. *Mean † Weighted mean