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Research: ASADI and COLLEAGUES,
Listed in Issue 259
Abstract
ASADI and COLLEAGUES, 1. Maternal-Fetal Medicine Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; 2. Health Policy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; 3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran. azadehkhalili80@yahoo.com; 4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran; 5. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; 6. Department of Biostatistics, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; 7. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; 8. Community Based Psychiatric Care Research Center, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran investigated the effects of acupuncture on labour pain, serum cortisol level, and duration of labour.
Background
Nowadays, acupuncture is widely used to manage pain, and childbirth is a condition requiring appropriate pain management interventions. The efficacy of acupuncture in the management of labour pain has recently been studied, but the results are not satisfactory and conflicts exist.
Methodology
In this study, the authors investigated the effects of acupuncture on labour pain, serum cortisol level, and duration of labour. The authors conducted a randomized, single-blind, controlled trial that included 63 nulliparous women: 32 in the study group and 31 in the control group. Acupuncture was performed at the SP-6 and the LI-4 points in the study group, and sham acupuncture was performed at the same points in the control group. Pain scores and serum cortisol levels were measured before and after the intervention. Changes in these measures and in the duration of labour were compared between the groups.
Results
No significant variations in pain scores or serum cortisol levels were observed between the two control groups. However, the duration of labour was significantly lower (p < 0.001) in the group receiving real acupuncture.
Conclusion
Our results show that acupuncture is significantly associated with a decreased duration of labour, even though it was no better than a placebo for the treatment of labour pain.
References
Asadi N1, Maharlouei N2, Khalili A3, Darabi Y4, Davoodi S5, Raeisi Shahraki H6, Hadianfard M7, Jokar A8, Vafaei H1, Kasraeian M1. Effects of LI-4 and SP-6 Acupuncture on Labor Pain, Cortisol Level and Duration of Labor. J Acupunct Meridian Stud. 8(5):249-54. doi: 10.1016/j.jams.2015.08.003. Epub 2015 Sep 11. Oct 2015.
Comment
The above research demonstrated significantly decreased duration of labour with acupuncture, although not for labour pain.s
