Abstract

BACKGROUND: Wrist-Ankle Acupuncture (WAA) is a modern style of acupuncture that utilizes superficial needling at specified points at the wrists and ankles. Though developed in the 1970’s, the English-language research is still limited.

OBJECTIVE: To establish what English-language literature is currently available on the topic of WAA.

METHODS: A scoping review of 6 databases (Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, EBSCOhost CINAHL Plus with Full Text, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and EBSCOhost Alt-Health Watch) was undertaken between April and July 2024 on the topic of WAA with no limitations on date, publication type, or language. Keywords included: wrist-ankle acupuncture, hand, foot, needle, and pin.

RESULTS: 201 unique records were located: 151 on the topic of WAA, 3 on WAA-adjacent topics, and 47 inaccessible records as of 11/30/2024: 39 records in English and the remaining 8 were in Chinese (6), French (1), or Spanish (1). Of the 151 WAA records, 107 were English records and 44 were only available in the Chinese language. 16 records were multi-study: 13 English, 3 in Chinese.

DISCUSSION: The proportions of conditions across studies screened at the title and abstract level versus the full-text level were similar. Devices and manual needling were both utilized, as were sham versions of each. WAA adjacent methods were identified. An area of further research noted by sources is the mechanism of action of WAA. Next steps: review citations of multi-study English-language sources to enhance the available pool of records to be screened.

CONCLUSION: The English-language literature on WAA is not robust, and further research is warranted.