title: Can Ashi points stimulation have specific effects on shoulder pain? A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide an evidence-based overview regarding the efficacy of Ashi points stimulation for the treatment of shoulder pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comprehensive search [PubMed, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chongqing Weipu Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals (VIP) and Wanfang Database] was conducted to identify randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials that evaluated the effectiveness of Ashi points stimulation for shoulder pain compared with conventional treatment. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. RevMan 5.0 was used for data synthesis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine trials were included. Seven studies assessed the effectiveness of Ashi points stimulation on response rate compared with conventional acupuncture. Their results suggested significant effect in favour of Ashi points stimulation [odds ratio (OR): 5.89, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.97 to 11.67, P<0.01, heterogeneity: χ(2) =3.81, P=0.70, I (2) =0% ]. One trial compared Ashi points stimulation with drug therapy. The result showed there was a significantly greater recovery rate in group of Ashi points stimulation (OR: 9.58, 95% CI: 2.69 to 34.12). One trial compared comprehensive treatment on the myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) with no treatment and the result was in favor of MTrPs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ashi points stimulation might be superior to conventional acupuncture, drug therapy and no treatment for shoulder pain. However, due to the low methodological quality of included studies, a firm conclusion could not be reached until further studies of high quality are available.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250014, China.
authors.forename: Kang-Feng
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shandong Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250014, China.
authors.forename: Li-Juan
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: National Clinical Research Base of Hypertension, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250014, China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Scientific Research Section, Shandong Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250014, China.
authors.forename: Yong-Hui
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: National Clinical Research Base of Hypertension, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250014, China. yangchuanhua1962@126.com.
authors.forename: Chuan-Hua
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D006801:Humans; D017594:Publication Bias; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D061028:Trigger Points
keywords: Ashi point; acupuncture; shoulder pain; systematic review