Complementary therapies in medicine
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Complement Ther Med · Feb 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialReflexology in the management of low back pain: a pilot randomised controlled trial.
The current study was designed as a pilot study for a randomised controlled trial to investigate the effectiveness of reflexology in the management of low back pain (LBP). ⋯ Reflexology appears to offer promise as a treatment in the management of LBP; however, an adequately powered trial is required before any more definitive pronouncements are possible.
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Complement Ther Med · Feb 2008
Complementary therapies in the management of low back pain: a survey of reflexologists.
To investigate current management of low back pain (LBP) by reflexologists. ⋯ Respondents considered reflexology to be an effective therapy for LBP. Further work is warranted to investigate the potential role of such treatment in the management of this prevalent and intractable condition.
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Complement Ther Med · Dec 2007
Randomized Controlled Trial Controlled Clinical TrialThe management of cancer-related fatigue after chemotherapy with acupuncture and acupressure: a randomised controlled trial.
Cancer-related fatigue after chemotherapy is a difficult symptom to manage in practice and the most disruptive symptom in patients' lives. Acupuncture is a popular complementary therapy among cancer patients and some evidence exists that it could potentially alleviate fatigue by stimulating 'energy' points in the body. Hence, this study was carried out to assess the effects of acupuncture and acupressure in managing cancer-related fatigue and the feasibility of running a randomised trial with these two complementary therapies in preparation for a large trial. ⋯ Acupuncture shows great potential in the management of cancer-related fatigue. As a randomised trial with acupuncture is feasible and preliminary data shows significant improvements, it should be tested further using a large sample and a multicentre design.
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Complement Ther Med · Dec 2007
Acupuncture for chronic pain within the research program of 10 German Health Insurance Funds--basic results from an observational study.
To investigate which patients receive acupuncture in the framework of statutory health insurance in Germany, how treatment was carried out, and what results were achieved. ⋯ Acupuncture proved a highly demanded treatment option for chronic pain conditions within the German research program. Results indicate that acupuncture provided by qualified therapists is safe, and patients benefited from the treatment.
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Complement Ther Med · Sep 2007
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyRandomised trial of trigger point acupuncture compared with other acupuncture for treatment of chronic neck pain.
There is some evidence for the efficacy of acupuncture in chronic neck pain (CNP) treatment, but it remains unclear which acupuncture modes are most effective. Objective was to evaluate the effects of trigger point acupuncture on pain and quality of life (QOL) in CNP patients compared to three other acupuncture treatments (acupoints, non-trigger point and sham treatment). ⋯ These results suggest that trigger point acupuncture therapy may be more effective on chronic neck pain in aged patients than the standard acupuncture therapy.