Study/Year

Included Studies

Study Type

Total Subjects

Included Treatments

Comparators

Comments

Study Quality Risk of Bias

[31] 2014 Meta-Analysis

Non-pharmacologic labor pain management is beneficial. Includes references [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] .

[37] 2011

RCT

52

Acupuncture

Good Low

[38] 2011

RCT

133

EA

Good Low

[39] 1999

RCT

22

Sterile water injections

Fair Low

[40] 2000

RCT

59

High intensity TENS

Fair Potential

[22] 2014

Critical narrative review of SR.

Opined that the individual studies should not be analyzed as a SR.

[41] 2011

SR

1986

EA (2 trials)

MA (7 trials). Acupressure (4 trials)

Sham acupuncture, usual care, placebo, or mixed/combined controls.

Study quality and risk of bias from reference [31] .

Quality Risk of bias

[32] 2009

[33] 2003

RCT

607

MA

Conventional analgesia or TENS.

Good Low

127

Acupressure (LI4 & BL67)

20 min. efflurage or talking.

Good Low

[42] 2007

[34] 2010

[43] 2008

150

MA

Sham needing at non acupoints.

RCT

(2313)

Acupressure (SP6)

Light touch or usual care.

Fair Low

324

EA

Breathing and local massage, epidural, or TENS.

[44] 2010

[45] 2004

[46] 2008

[35] 2003

[47] 2007

[48] 2002

[49] 2002

[36] 2006

120

Acupressure (SP6)

Light touch.

89

Acupressure (SP6)

Light touch (SP6).

128

MA

Sterile water injections.

Controlled trial

198

MA

Usual care.

Good Unclear

36

EA (SP6 & LI4)

No pain relief.

RCT

100

MA

Conventional analgesia.

Good Low

210

MA

Conventional analgesia.

90

MA

Minimal needling or no intervention.

Good Unclear

[50] 2010

SR

2468

EA (2 trials)

MA (8 trials)

Placebo, sham acupuncture, usual care, or no intervention.

Includes references [32] [35] [36] [42] [43] [46] [48] [49] .

[51] 2006

120

EA (SP6)

Placebo EA (SP6) or no intervention.

[52] 2007

111

MA

Minimal needling or no intervention.

[53] 2004

SR

1588

Acupuncture

Active controls, sham acupuncture, or usual care.

Includes references [35] [48] [49] [54] .

[54] 2003

SR

90

Acupuncture

Sham acupuncture.