Surveys of the most commonly treated conditions by acupuncture
What are the conditions most frequently treated by acupunture?
According to a recent survey (2008) commissioned by the British Acupuncture Council, the
Top 40 Health Problems commonly treated by acupuncturists in the UK are:
1st Back pain* 240
2nd Fertility ♀ 178
3rd Headaches♣ 95
4th Depression 62
5th Skin 60
6th Shoulder* 58
7th Neck* 53
8th Sciatica* 50
9th Arthritis 48
10th Migraine 45
11th Menopause 44
12th Anxiety 43
13th Cosmetic 43
14th Knee* 37
15th Insomnia 35
16th PCOS 31
17th Hip 28
18th Menstrual 28
19th Stress 26
20th ME/CFS 26
21st Obesity 26
22nd Smoking 26
23rd Foot* 25
24th Endometriosis 21
25th Sinuses 20
26th Breech baby 20
27th Hyper/hypo-tension 19
28th Tinnitus 19
29th Urinary 18
30th Elbow* 18
31st Miscarriage 17
32nd Colitis/Crohns 16
33rd IBS 15
34th Bloating 13
35th Constipation 13
36th Asthma 12
37th Induction 12
38th Panic 12
39th MS 12
40th Morning sickness 12
Almost 10% of respondents were seeking help with back pain.
The top 5 problems in
the above table represent 25% of the total 2495 responses.
Top 40 Health Problems commonly treated by acupuncturists in the UK are:
1st Back pain* 240
2nd Fertility ♀ 178
3rd Headaches♣ 95
4th Depression 62
5th Skin 60
6th Shoulder* 58
7th Neck* 53
8th Sciatica* 50
9th Arthritis 48
10th Migraine 45
11th Menopause 44
12th Anxiety 43
13th Cosmetic 43
14th Knee* 37
15th Insomnia 35
16th PCOS 31
17th Hip 28
18th Menstrual 28
19th Stress 26
20th ME/CFS 26
21st Obesity 26
22nd Smoking 26
23rd Foot* 25
24th Endometriosis 21
25th Sinuses 20
26th Breech baby 20
27th Hyper/hypo-tension 19
28th Tinnitus 19
29th Urinary 18
30th Elbow* 18
31st Miscarriage 17
32nd Colitis/Crohns 16
33rd IBS 15
34th Bloating 13
35th Constipation 13
36th Asthma 12
37th Induction 12
38th Panic 12
39th MS 12
40th Morning sickness 12
Almost 10% of respondents were seeking help with back pain.
The top 5 problems in
the above table represent 25% of the total 2495 responses.
Maryland Patient Survey
The Maryland Acupuncture Society contracted for a patient survey to be conducted in 1999, with the results being published in January, 2000.
The Patient Satisfaction Survey - Final Report lists the following thirteen most common conditions for which patients sought treatment from an acupuncturist.
Over 80% of the respondants also found these treatments to be very effective or moderately effective.
Thirteen Commonly and Effectively Treated Conditions
Stress/Tension
Depression/Mood
Fatique/Energy
Back Pain
Other Musculoskeletal Pain
Arthritis
Migraine
Other Headaches
Female Concerns
Gastrointestinal
Allergies
Asthma
Health/Wholeness
Ratings of the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating these conditions were very high.
In the case of stress, for example, 68% said that acupuncture was a “very effective” treatment for this condition, and another 29% said it was moderately effective.
With respect to pain, 55% and 62% respectively, said that acupuncture was very effective for back and other kinds of pain, and only 12% said it was not all, or only mildly effective. Effectiveness ratings for other conditions were similarly positive.
The Maryland Acupuncture Society contracted for a patient survey to be conducted in 1999, with the results being published in January, 2000.
The Patient Satisfaction Survey - Final Report lists the following thirteen most common conditions for which patients sought treatment from an acupuncturist.
Over 80% of the respondants also found these treatments to be very effective or moderately effective.
Thirteen Commonly and Effectively Treated Conditions
Stress/Tension
Depression/Mood
Fatique/Energy
Back Pain
Other Musculoskeletal Pain
Arthritis
Migraine
Other Headaches
Female Concerns
Gastrointestinal
Allergies
Asthma
Health/Wholeness
Ratings of the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating these conditions were very high.
In the case of stress, for example, 68% said that acupuncture was a “very effective” treatment for this condition, and another 29% said it was moderately effective.
With respect to pain, 55% and 62% respectively, said that acupuncture was very effective for back and other kinds of pain, and only 12% said it was not all, or only mildly effective. Effectiveness ratings for other conditions were similarly positive.
California Occupational Survey
In 1996, an occupational survey was conducted under contract to the California State Acupuncture Committee in order to update the content of the California Acupuncture Licensing Exam. This survey identifed well over one hundred conditions or categories of conditions treated. The following is a top twenty-five conditions the Licensed Acupuncturists treated.
25 Commonly Treated Conditions
Anxiety & Depression
Arthritis, Tendonitis, & Joint pain
Asthma & Allergies
Auto Injuries
Bladder and Kidney Infections
Cardiac Palpitations (Irregular Heartbeat)
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Common Cold & Influenza
Degenerative Disk Disorders
Diet, Nutrition, & Weight Control
Fibromyalgia
Headaches & Migraines
Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
Indigestion, Gas, Bloating, Constipation
Insomnia
Menopause Symptoms
Musculoskeletal pain
Nausea
Orthopedic Conditions
Pain - other kinds
PMS & Menstrual Irregularity
Sports Injuries
Tension / Stress Syndromes
Tinnitus
Work Injuries
In 1996, an occupational survey was conducted under contract to the California State Acupuncture Committee in order to update the content of the California Acupuncture Licensing Exam. This survey identifed well over one hundred conditions or categories of conditions treated. The following is a top twenty-five conditions the Licensed Acupuncturists treated.
25 Commonly Treated Conditions
Anxiety & Depression
Arthritis, Tendonitis, & Joint pain
Asthma & Allergies
Auto Injuries
Bladder and Kidney Infections
Cardiac Palpitations (Irregular Heartbeat)
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Common Cold & Influenza
Degenerative Disk Disorders
Diet, Nutrition, & Weight Control
Fibromyalgia
Headaches & Migraines
Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
Indigestion, Gas, Bloating, Constipation
Insomnia
Menopause Symptoms
Musculoskeletal pain
Nausea
Orthopedic Conditions
Pain - other kinds
PMS & Menstrual Irregularity
Sports Injuries
Tension / Stress Syndromes
Tinnitus
Work Injuries
A nationwide survey in 2005 in Japan show similar patterns of use of acupuncture to american and european consumers.
YAMASHITA Hitoshi, TSUKAYAMA Hiroshi 45
Table 1 Percentages of Japanese people who had used acupuncture in the past 12 months
Age group 20-39 years 40-59 years 60-79 years Total
Males 5.9% (11/188) 5.9% (11/187) 4.3% (5/116) 5.5% (27/491)
Females 8.8% (16/181) 7.4% (14/189) 7.2% (10/139) 7.9% (40/509)
Total 7.3% (27/369) 6.6% (25/376) 5.9% (15/255) 6.7% (67/1000)
(Acupuncture users/total number in parentheses)
Table 2 Medical conditions for which acupuncture was used by the Japanese respondents
Condition treated %
Low back pain 37 (25/67)
Stiff neck 28 (19/67)
Shoulder pain 7 (5/67)
Knee or lower extremity pain 7 (5/67)
Neck pain 4 (3/67)
Pain (region unspecified) 4 (3/67)
Shoulder (symptom unspecified) 3 (2/67)
Headache 3 (2/67)
Fever 3 (2/67)
Fatigue 3 (2/67)
Elbow pain 3 (2/67)
Abdominal pain 3 (2/67)
Others 10 (7/67)
(Number of case/total number of acupuncture users (n=67). Percentages do not total 100 because some
respondents gave more than one condition.)
YAMASHITA Hitoshi, TSUKAYAMA Hiroshi 45
Table 1 Percentages of Japanese people who had used acupuncture in the past 12 months
Age group 20-39 years 40-59 years 60-79 years Total
Males 5.9% (11/188) 5.9% (11/187) 4.3% (5/116) 5.5% (27/491)
Females 8.8% (16/181) 7.4% (14/189) 7.2% (10/139) 7.9% (40/509)
Total 7.3% (27/369) 6.6% (25/376) 5.9% (15/255) 6.7% (67/1000)
(Acupuncture users/total number in parentheses)
Table 2 Medical conditions for which acupuncture was used by the Japanese respondents
Condition treated %
Low back pain 37 (25/67)
Stiff neck 28 (19/67)
Shoulder pain 7 (5/67)
Knee or lower extremity pain 7 (5/67)
Neck pain 4 (3/67)
Pain (region unspecified) 4 (3/67)
Shoulder (symptom unspecified) 3 (2/67)
Headache 3 (2/67)
Fever 3 (2/67)
Fatigue 3 (2/67)
Elbow pain 3 (2/67)
Abdominal pain 3 (2/67)
Others 10 (7/67)
(Number of case/total number of acupuncture users (n=67). Percentages do not total 100 because some
respondents gave more than one condition.)
In Europe acupuncture is often assimilated into a
large and heterogeneous category of treatments, the
“so-called” complementary and alternative medicine
(CAM) or unconventional therapeutic methods .
The reviewed information indicates that the rapid
growth in the popularity of acupuncture and CAM in
the last 15 years is a common denominator in
European countries.
According to the latest data, 9 million of Italians have experienced CAM. In detail, they have been submitted to homeopathy (5.8％), massage (20.5%), herb therapy (10.5%) and acupuncture (5.8%).
Main indications for these therapies are
musculoskeletal problems, allergic diseases,respiratory and gynecological conditions, neurological disorders (migraine, facial palsy and in the previous 1-2 years the percentage of Italian people who underwent to acupuncture has been
2.9%.
The data collected between 1995 and 1997 in the
public centre of Civitanova Marche showed that
symptoms treated by acupuncture were: rheumatism
(48%), respiratory and otolaryngological diseases
(34%), psychiatric and neurological disorders (32%),
diseases of the digestive system (32%),
cardiovascular diseases (27%) and urologic (19%),
dermatologic (16%), gynecological disorders (14%).
Besides, between 1991 (2.1%) and 1999
(2.9%) a 0.8% increase of this percentage has been
reached.
Nowadays every year 4% of Italians receive acupuncture.
Medical doctors who are using acupuncture as one of the therapeutic method are approximately 15,000 and acupuncture is practiced in approximately 122 public pain centers, where the national health insurance system covers the expense of the treatment.
large and heterogeneous category of treatments, the
“so-called” complementary and alternative medicine
(CAM) or unconventional therapeutic methods .
The reviewed information indicates that the rapid
growth in the popularity of acupuncture and CAM in
the last 15 years is a common denominator in
European countries.
According to the latest data, 9 million of Italians have experienced CAM. In detail, they have been submitted to homeopathy (5.8％), massage (20.5%), herb therapy (10.5%) and acupuncture (5.8%).
Main indications for these therapies are
musculoskeletal problems, allergic diseases,respiratory and gynecological conditions, neurological disorders (migraine, facial palsy and in the previous 1-2 years the percentage of Italian people who underwent to acupuncture has been
2.9%.
The data collected between 1995 and 1997 in the
public centre of Civitanova Marche showed that
symptoms treated by acupuncture were: rheumatism
(48%), respiratory and otolaryngological diseases
(34%), psychiatric and neurological disorders (32%),
diseases of the digestive system (32%),
cardiovascular diseases (27%) and urologic (19%),
dermatologic (16%), gynecological disorders (14%).
Besides, between 1991 (2.1%) and 1999
(2.9%) a 0.8% increase of this percentage has been
reached.
Nowadays every year 4% of Italians receive acupuncture.
Medical doctors who are using acupuncture as one of the therapeutic method are approximately 15,000 and acupuncture is practiced in approximately 122 public pain centers, where the national health insurance system covers the expense of the treatment.