A multicentre randomised controlled trial conducted in Spain has found that single-point acupuncture in association with physiotherapy improves shoulder function and alleviates pain better than physiotherapy alone. 425 patients with a clinical diagnosis of unilateral subacromial syndrome received 15 sessions of physiotherapy over three weeks and were randomised to additionally receive, once a week, acupuncture or mock TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation). The mean score on the Constant-Murley Shoulder Outcome Score increased by 16.6 points in the acupuncture group, compared with 10.6 points in the control group, and the mean difference between the two groups was statistically significant. This improvement was accompanied by a reduction in painkiller consumption. By the end of the treatment, 53% of the patients in the acupuncture group had decreased their consumption of analgesics, compared with a corresponding 30% in the control group.

Single-point acupuncture and physiotherapy for the treatment of painful shoulder: a multicentre randomized controlled trial. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2008 Apr 10