Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34189032›Full record

ArticleIntegrative medicine research2022

Comparing the efficacy of two different temperature stimulation in warm acupuncture on acute low back pain: A randomized controlled trial.

Tian Li, Siyao Wang, Ke Cheng, Lu Sun, Daopeng Jin, Shen Zhang, Zhen Yang, Zouqin Huang

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Integrative medicine research, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.1field-weighted citation impact, top 23% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 8 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Research on acupuncture robots based on the OptiTrack motion capture system and a robotic arm.Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan · 2025
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Tian LiShanghai Pudong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Siyao WangShanghai Pudong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Ke ChengShanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Lu SunShanghai Jing'an District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Daopeng JinShanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Shen ZhangShanghai Pudong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Zhen YangShanghai Pudong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Zouqin HuangShanghai Pudong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Pudong Medical Center · CNShanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine · CNShanghai Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital · CN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWarm acupuncture, a combination of the mechanical stimulation of acupuncture and thermal stimulation of moxibustion, is commonly used in treating acute low back pain (LBP). This trial aimed to compare the efficacy of stronger (above 43°C) and weaker (above 40°C) heat stimulation in warm acupuncture on the function and pain in patients with acute LBP due to lumbosacral disc degeneration (LDD).

methodsOne hundred and fifty-nine adults were randomly assigned to receive warm acupuncture treatment with silver needle (SvN) or with stainless steel needle (SSN) (1:1). Both groups received a 3-week therapy with 3 sessions per week. The primary outcome was the modified Oswestry Disability Index at week 4. The secondary outcomes included average pain, three physical sign tests and adverse events. Participants were followed up at week 16 and week 28 after randomization.

resultsThe LBP related disability and pain intensity significantly relieved more in the SvN warm acupuncture group than in the SSN group, in both the short and long term (

conclusionCompared with warm acupuncture with stainless-steel needle at above 40°C, warm acupuncture with silver needle at above 43°C relieved more disability and pain in patients with acute LBP due to LDD. STUDY REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR1800019051).

Indexed as

Acupuncture therapyHeat stimulationLow back painLumbosacral disc degenerationNociception

Identifiers

PMID34189032
PMCPMC8217681
OpenAlexW3176691497

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.