Protocol for Acupuncture Treatment of Lateral Elbow Pain: A Multisite Randomised Controlled Trial in China, Hong Kong, Australia, and Italy

Abstract

Background. Lateral elbow pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal pains associated with the upper limb and has an estimated population incidence of 1–3%. Methods/Design. This study protocol is for a multisite randomised controlled study and is designed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of chronic (over three months' duration) lateral elbow pain. Four study sites, in the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong, Italy, and Australia, will recruit 24 participants each. A total of 96 participants will be randomised to either an acupuncture group or a sham laser control group. The primary outcome measure will be the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire with secondary outcome measures of Pain-Free Grip Strength Test, Muscle Tension Test, and a pain visual analogue scale. Discussion. Key features for conducting a multisite international acupuncture randomised clinical trial have been detailed in this protocol. Trial Registration. This trial is registered at Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry ACTRN12613001138774 on 11 October, 2013.

Electroacupuncture pretreatment protects septic rats from acute lung injury by relieving inflammation and regulating macrophage polarization

“…16 LI11 is located on the lateral aspect of the elbow, at the midpoint of an imaginary line connecting LU5 ( Chize ) with the lateral epicondyle of the humerus. 17 Stainless steel needles (0.30 mm × 25 mm; Huatuo, Suzhou Medical Instruments Factory, China) were inserted into the subcutis to a depth of 3–5 mm and stimulated using an EA instrument (Huatuo, Suzhou Medical Instruments Factory, Suzhou, China) with a dilatational wave (sparse wave 3 Hz, pulse width 95.24 ms; dense wave 15 Hz, pulse width 47.62 ms) at a frequency of 3/15 Hz and an intensity of 1 mA, for 30 min per day, once a day, for 5 days.…”