Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Inclusion was not restricted by study design. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs), controlled crossover trials and case studies were included. The RCTs included double-, single- and non-blinded trials. The crossover trials were randomised and either double- or non-blinded.
Specific interventions included in the review
Studies of any form of needling therapy were eligible for inclusion. The review included traditional acupuncture, superficial needling and electroacupuncture. Needling points varied between the studies. All but one of the included studies involved multiple sessions. The duration of multiple-session interventions in the included trials ranged from 2 to 10 weeks, with treatments conducted once or twice weekly. Comparators to acupuncture included massage, education, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), sham TENS, lidocaine, lidocaine with steroid, sham acupuncture and standard clinic therapy.
Participants included in the review
Studies in people with low back pain conditions were eligible for inclusion. Apparently, only chronic pain was included; chronic was not defined. All of the included studies were conducted in adults. It was mentioned that one study was of an elderly population (aged 60 years or more).
Outcomes assessed in the review
The outcome of interest was not explicit. It appeared to be pain relief, and to have been measured by various parameters and at various follow-up times in the included studies.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
The author did not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many reviewers performed the selection.