Impact of acupressure on onset of labour and labour duration: A systematic review

Mollart, LJ; Adam, J; Foureur, M

Impact of acupressure on onset of labour and labour duration: A systematic review

Mollart, LJ

Adam, J

Foureur, M

Permalink

Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Women and Birth, 2015, 28 (3), pp. 199 - 206
Issue Date:: 2015-09-01

Closed Access

	Filename	Description	Size
	Mollart Adams Foureur 2015_ acupressure systematic review WOMBI in press.pdf	Accepted Manuscript Version	293.86 kB	Adobe PDF	View/Open
	Mollart Adams Foureur 2015_ acupressure systematic review WOMBI in press.pdf	Published Version	293.86 kB	Adobe PDF	View/Open

Copyright Clearance Process

Recently Added
In Progress
Closed Access

This item is closed access and not available.

Full metadata record

Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Mollart, LJ https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8390-0658	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Adam, J https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9901-5717	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Foureur, M https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0454-0165	en_US
dc.date.available	2015-03-31	en_US
dc.date.issued	2015-09-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Women and Birth, 2015, 28 (3), pp. 199 - 206	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1871-5192	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/36723
dc.description.abstract	© 2015 Australian College of Midwives. Background: There is worldwide concern with increasing rates of pharmacologically induced labour and operative birth. Many women would like to avoid medical or surgical interventions in childbirth; a desire that may contribute towards the popularity of complementary and alternative medicine/therapies. Method: This systematic review examines the effects of acupressure on labour onset and duration of labour. We searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, AMED, Cochrane Collaboration, and Science Direct from 1999 to 2013 for published randomised controlled trials and controlled trials comparing acupressure with placebo and no treatment. Studies recruited primiparous and/or multiparous women with either spontaneous or induced onset of labour. The outcome measures were labour onset and duration of all stages of labour. Findings: Seven trials with data reporting on 748 women using different acupressure points and methods of administration were included in the review. One study examined the initiation of labour and six studies examined labour duration and/or pain levels. The two most studied acupoints were Sanyinjiao/Spleen 6 and Hegu/Large Intestine 4. Results suggest acupressure may reduce the length of labour particularly in the first stage. Conclusion: Further research is required on whether acupressure can shorten labour duration, augment prolonged labour or initiate onset of labour by stimulating uterine contractions. Clinical trials should report the basis for acupressure treatment described in the STRICTA (minus needling) and CONSORT non-pharmaceutical guidelines.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Women and Birth	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.wombi.2015.03.007	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Labor Pain	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Acupuncture Therapy	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Acupressure	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Analgesia, Obstetrical	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Delivery, Obstetric	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Pregnancy	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Labor, Obstetric	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Labor Stage, Second	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Adult	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Female	en_US
dc.title	Impact of acupressure on onset of labour and labour duration: A systematic review	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	3	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	28	en_US
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services	en_US
utslib.for	1104 Complementary and Alternative Medicine	en_US
utslib.for	11 Medical and Health Sciences	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Midwifery
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	3	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	28	en_US

Abstract:

© 2015 Australian College of Midwives. Background: There is worldwide concern with increasing rates of pharmacologically induced labour and operative birth. Many women would like to avoid medical or surgical interventions in childbirth; a desire that may contribute towards the popularity of complementary and alternative medicine/therapies. Method: This systematic review examines the effects of acupressure on labour onset and duration of labour. We searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, AMED, Cochrane Collaboration, and Science Direct from 1999 to 2013 for published randomised controlled trials and controlled trials comparing acupressure with placebo and no treatment. Studies recruited primiparous and/or multiparous women with either spontaneous or induced onset of labour. The outcome measures were labour onset and duration of all stages of labour. Findings: Seven trials with data reporting on 748 women using different acupressure points and methods of administration were included in the review. One study examined the initiation of labour and six studies examined labour duration and/or pain levels. The two most studied acupoints were Sanyinjiao/Spleen 6 and Hegu/Large Intestine 4. Results suggest acupressure may reduce the length of labour particularly in the first stage. Conclusion: Further research is required on whether acupressure can shorten labour duration, augment prolonged labour or initiate onset of labour by stimulating uterine contractions. Clinical trials should report the basis for acupressure treatment described in the STRICTA (minus needling) and CONSORT non-pharmaceutical guidelines.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/36723