Comparison of the Effectiveness of Three Different Acupuncture Methods for TMD-Related Pain: A Randomized Clinical Study
Table 2
Comparisons of pain scores (VNS) within groups after acupuncture treatments (T1) and follow-up visit (T2) (n = 20 in each group); mean ± SD values.
Group
T0
T1
T2
PT
P0-1
P0-2
TMJ pain
BA group
38.75 ± 38.45
18.00 ± 24.46
16.00 ± 22.57
0.004
0.002
0.002
EA group
31.00 ± 42.66
13.00 ± 26.77
11.00 ± 24.47
0.247
0.035
0.035
CA group
24.50 ± 33.96
8.00 ± 17.04
6.50 ± 14.24
0.047
0.008
0.009
Masticatory muscle pain
BA group
34.00 ± 37.79
22.50 ± 28.40
21.00 ± 27.51
0.118
0.022
0.014
EA group
35.50 ± 38.45
9.00 ± 16.83
8.00 ± 14.72
0.047
0.009
0.009
CA group
39.50 ± 38.73
16.50 ± 25.19
16.00 ± 24.58
0.004
0.002
0.002
Headache
BA group
63.25 ± 31.13
30.50 ± 32.84
28.50 ± 31.00
≤0.001
≤0.001
≤0.001
EA group
69.00 ± 25.73
22.50 ± 28.45
17.50 ± 26.73
≤0.001
≤0.001
≤0.001
CA group
56.00 ± 32.83
22.50 ± 25.31
19.00 ± 22.92
≤0.001
≤0.001
≤0.001
Neck pain
BA group
64.75 ± 33.54
37.50 ± 31.44
38.50 ± 32.00
0.003
0.002
0.004
EA group
64.50 ± 36.77
24.00 ± 25.42
23.50 ± 25.19
≤0.001
≤0.001
≤0.001
CA group
59.25 ± 33.65
24.50 ± 25.02
25.00 ± 24.39
≤0.001
≤0.001
≤0.001
VNS, verbal numeric scale; SD, standard deviation. BA group, body acupuncture; EA group, electroacupuncture; CA group, acupuncture + cupping. PT, value for the within-group comparison (Friedman test); P0-1, value for the comparison of baseline (T0) and after 4 weeks (T1) scores (Wilcoxon signed-rank test); P0-2, value for the comparison of baseline (T0) and after 8 weeks (T2) scores (Wilcoxon signed-rank test).
