Acupuntura para Tratamento do Ombro Doloroso: Metanálise

Background: The painful shoulder is a very prevalent entity. Several treatment options are currently recommended, including acupuncture. Acupuncture is part of the arsenal of Traditional ChineseMedicine (TCM) and dates back to the 6th century BC, and consists of the application of needles in specific points of the body, in order to harmonize and allow the free flow of vital energy (Qi). Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture for the treatment of painful shoulder, as well as to compare the techniques and points used. Methods: Meta-analysis of 28 randomized, controlled clinical trials, comparing the effect of acupuncture and placebo intervention (Sham). Results: In all these studies, acupuncture proved to be superior to control group in the treatment of shoulder pain. Most articles were of good quality, with clear randomization criteria and few publication biases. Conclusion: The needling of local points and distance, described by TCM, is able to reduce shoulder pain safely and effectively. Level of Evidence I: Systematic Review of Level I Studies.