[Clinical efficacy comparison of different acupuncture frequencies for pain of temporomandibular disorders: a randomized controlled trial].
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to compare the efficacy of different acupuncture frequencies (low, medium, high) in reducing pain and improving mandibular function in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD).
Results Summary
High-frequency acupuncture (three times per week) was more effective than medium- or low-frequency in reducing TMD pain intensity (measured by GCPS, VAS, and JFLS-20 scores) and improving pressure pain thresholds (PPT). Effects persisted for at least four weeks post-treatment, though the study did not address long-term outcomes or safety.
Population
42 patients with TMD pain, divided into three groups of 14 each (low-, medium-, and high-frequency acupuncture).
Effective Dosage
Low-frequency: once per week; medium-frequency: twice per week; high-frequency: three times per week.
Duration
Four weeks of treatment, with follow-up assessments four weeks post-treatment.
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
acupuncture treatment (low-frequency: once per week) | decrease | graded chronic pain scale (GCPS) score | patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) pain | - | significantly decreased | #1 |
acupuncture treatment (low-frequency: once per week) | decrease | jaw functional limitation scale-20 (JFLS-20) score | patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) pain | - | significantly decreased | #2 |
acupuncture treatment (medium-frequency: twice per week) | decrease | graded chronic pain scale (GCPS) score | patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) pain | - | significantly decreased | #3 |
acupuncture treatment (medium-frequency: twice per week) | decrease | jaw functional limitation scale-20 (JFLS-20) score | patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) pain | - | significantly decreased | #4 |
acupuncture treatment (medium-frequency: twice per week) | decrease | visual analogue scale (VAS) score | patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) pain | - | significantly decreased | #5 |
acupuncture treatment (high-frequency: three times per week) | decrease | graded chronic pain scale (GCPS) score | patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) pain | - | significantly decreased | #6 |
acupuncture treatment (high-frequency: three times per week) | decrease | jaw functional limitation scale-20 (JFLS-20) score | patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) pain | - | significantly decreased | #7 |
acupuncture treatment (high-frequency: three times per week) | decrease | visual analogue scale (VAS) score | patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) pain | - | significantly decreased | #8 |
acupuncture treatment (high-frequency: three times per week) | increase | pressure pain threshold (PPT) values at different measurement sites | patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) pain | - | increased significantly | #9 |
acupuncture treatment (high-frequency: three times per week) | decrease | GCPS, JFLS-20, and VAS scores | patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) pain | - | were lower than those in the medium-frequency and low-frequency groups | #10 |
acupuncture treatment (high-frequency: three times per week) | increase | some PPT values | patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) pain | - | were higher than the other two groups | #11 |
acupuncture treatment (low-frequency: once per week) | decrease | GCPS, JFLS-20, and VAS scores | patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) pain | - | remained significantly lower | #12 |
acupuncture treatment (medium-frequency: twice per week) | decrease | GCPS, JFLS-20, and VAS scores | patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) pain | - | remained significantly lower | #13 |
acupuncture treatment (high-frequency: three times per week) | decrease | GCPS, JFLS-20, and VAS scores | patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) pain | - | remained significantly lower | #14 |
acupuncture treatment (medium-frequency: twice per week) | increase | PPT values | patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) pain | - | were increased significantly | #15 |
acupuncture treatment (high-frequency: three times per week) | increase | PPT values | patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) pain | - | were increased significantly | #16 |
acupuncture treatment (high-frequency: three times per week) | decrease and increase | GCPS, JFLS-20, and VAS scores and PPT values | patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) pain | - | showing lower scores and higher values | #17 |
acupuncture three times per week | decrease | TMD pain intensity | patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) pain | - | is more effective in reducing | #18 |
acupuncture three times per week | decrease | some mandibular functional impairments | patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) pain | - | can also alleviate | #19 |
OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy differences among different acupuncture frequencies for pain of temporomandibular disorders (TMD). METHODS: A total of 42 patients with TMD pain were randomly divided into a low-frequency group, a medium-frequency group, and a high-frequency group, with 14 patients in each group. All groups received acupuncture treatment at bilateral Hegu (LI4) and Yanglingquan (GB34), as well as ipsilateral Tinggong (SI19), Jiache (ST6), and Xiaguan (ST7), with each session lasting 30 minutes. The low-frequency group received acupuncture once per week, the medium-frequency group received acupuncture twice per week, and the high-frequency group received acupuncture three times per week, for a total duration of four weeks. The graded chronic pain scale (GCPS) score, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, jaw functional limitation scale-20 (JFLS-20) score, and pressure pain threshold (PPT) were assessed in the three groups before and after treatment, as well as at the four-week follow-up after treatment completion. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, GCPS and JFLS-20 scores were significantly decreased in all the groups after treatment (P<0.05), and VAS scores were significantly decreased in the high-frequency and medium-frequency groups (P<0.05), PPT values at different measurement sites were increased significantly in the high-frequency group (P<0.05). After treatment, GCPS, JFLS-20, and VAS scores in the high-frequency group were lower than those in the medium-frequency and low-frequency groups (P<0.05), while some PPT values were higher than the other two groups (P<0.05). At follow-up, GCPS, JFLS-20, and VAS scores remained significantly lower in all the groups compared to baseline (P<0.05), PPT values were increased significantly in the high-frequency and medium-frequency groups (P<0.05), with the high-frequency group showing lower GCPS, JFLS-20, and VAS scores and higher PPT values compared to the other two groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture three times per week is more effective in reducing TMD pain intensity compared to once or twice per week, and can also alleviate some mandibular functional impairments. The therapeutic effects persist for at least four weeks after treatment completion.