Acupuncture and acupoints for managing pediatric cerebral palsy. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Acupuncture and Acupoints for Managing Pediatric Cerebral Palsy: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
Healthcare (Basel). 2024 Sep 5 ;12(17). Epub 2024 Sep 5. PMID: 39273805
Ya-Yun Cheng
BACKGROUND: Acupuncture is frequently used to manage pediatric cerebral palsy (CP), yet updated evidence is needed to guide future research and clinical practice.
METHODS: Seven databases were searched from 1994 to 26 June 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving body, scalp, or ear acupuncture for managing CP, excluding acupoint injection, catgut embedding, electro-acupuncture, or laser acupuncture, were included.
RESULTS: Twenty RCTs with 1797 participants were analyzed. Acupuncture groups had better improvements in gross motor function measure (GMFM) scores by 5% (mean difference: 5.93, 95% CI: 3.67-8.19,<0.001, I= 57%); a 16% higher probability to yield prominent improvement in effectiveness rate (ER) (risk ratio: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.08-1.25,<0.001, I= 0%); and better outcomes in the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) (standardized mean difference [SMD]: 0.3, 95%, CI: 0.11-0.49,<0.001, I= 0%), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) (SMD: 2.48; 95% CI: 2.00-2.97,<0.001, I= 72%) and ADL (SMD: 1.66; 95% CI: 1.23-2.08,<0.001, I= 91%). Studies with eight core acupoints identified from all ninety-five acupoints had better ER.
CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture, especially using core acupoints, may be effective for managing symptoms in children with CP.
