Acupuncture versus topiramate in chronic migraine 2024

Stimulated by Liu et al 2024.[1] IF – impact factorRCT – randomised controlled trialART – Acupuncture Randomised Trial (part of the Modellvorhaben Akupunktur)RR50 – responder rate 50 (50 refers to a reduction of 50% or more in headache days)MMDs – monthly migraine daysNICE – National Institute for Health and Care ExcellenceNMA – network meta-analysis – … Continue reading Acupuncture versus topiramate in chronic migraine 2024

EA plus CBZ for TN 2024

Stimulated by Li et al 2024.[1] EA – electroacupunctureCBZ – carbamazepineTN – trigeminal neuralgiaIF – impact factorG – googletid – ter in die (latin for three times a day) – key to acronyms I chose this paper in the Journal of Neurology (IF 6.0) because the 2x2 factorial design is uncommon in acupuncture research from … Continue reading EA plus CBZ for TN 2024

MSK mimics of LS radiculopathy

Stimulated by Bateman et al 2024.[1] This is a section from the BMAS TrP chart with referral patterns relevant to the topic of this blog. MSK – musculoskeletalLS – lumbosacralIF – impact factorLBP – low back painDRG – dorsal root ganglionNCS – nerve conduction studiesEMG – electromyographyOA – osteoarthritisFAI – femoroacetabular impingementQL – quadratus lumborumICT … Continue reading MSK mimics of LS radiculopathy

Pyonex for necks 2024

Stimulated by Horike & Ukezono 2024.[1] Deniah modelling 3 pink Pyonex over her upper L SCM. DIY – do-it-yourselfVAS – visual analogue score (for pain intensity in this case)M-VAS – motion-related VAS (for neck movement-related pain in this case)NDI-J – neck disability index (Japanese version)PPT – pressure pain threshold – key to acronyms This is … Continue reading Pyonex for necks 2024

EA for CUR 2024

Stimulated by Yang et al 2024.[1] Lake Powell, Arizona on Wednesday 19th April 2023. EA – electroacupunctureCUR – chronic urinary retentionQoL – quality of lifeSNS – sacral nerve stimulationPOUR – post-operative urinary retentionPVR – post-voiding residual (urine volume)EA – electroacupuncturePOCUS – point of care ultrasound key to acronyms This is a relatively small retrospective cohort … Continue reading EA for CUR 2024

EA post-TKA 2024

Inspired by Huang et al 2023.[1] This Figure is taken from the published protocol.[2] EA – electroacupunctureTKA – total knee arthroplastyRCT – randomised controlled trialVAS – visual analogue scorePCA – patient-controlled analgesiaMSK – musculoskeletalSD – standard deviationCI – confidence intervalMCID – minimum important clinical difference key to acronyms This is a paper that we (Acupuncture … Continue reading EA post-TKA 2024

Acupuncture for severe hip OA 2023

Stimulated by Astini & Riberto 2023.[1] OA hip protocols – the protocol from Astini & Riberto 2023 is on the left. On the right is the periosteal protocol currently taught by the BMAS. There is a video demonstration in a previous blog: Periosteal techniques 1963-2018. OA – osteoarthritisVAS – visual analogue scoreWOMAC – Western Ontario … Continue reading Acupuncture for severe hip OA 2023

STP and the DH 2023

Stimulated by Cathenaut et al 2023.[1] Graphic drawn by MC in the late 90's at the request of AW for a paper in the BMJ.[2] STP – short term plasticityDH – dorsal horn (the sensory horn of the spinal cord)EA – electroacupunctureCirca – approximately (sometimes shortened to c)TRPV1 – transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1GABA … Continue reading STP and the DH 2023

EA and COMT Val158Met 2023

Stimulated by Yang et al 2023.[1] Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com.You might expect this sort of character to be Val Val ie homozygous for guanine at codon 158 of the COMT gene. EA – electroacupunctureAA – auricular acupunctureCOMT – catechol-o-methyltransferaseMSK – musculoskeletalBFA – battlefield acupuncture (an AA protocol – See: Ears and the battlefield)rs – … Continue reading EA and COMT Val158Met 2023

Acupuncture for endometriosis pain 2023

Stimulated by Li et al 2023.[1] Figure 2 from Li et al 2023.[1] RCT – randomised controlled trialVAS – visual analogue score key to acronyms This is the second moderately large (n=106) controlled trial of acupuncture in endometriosis. It is a sham controlled trial. The first was a similarly sized (n=101) cross-over trial using acupuncture … Continue reading Acupuncture for endometriosis pain 2023