Efficacy of acupuncture as a treatment for chronic shoulder pain.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture as a treatment for chronic shoulder pain and to compare the efficacy of individualized acupuncture to fixed, standard point acupuncture treatment.

Design: The study was a single-blind randomized, controlled trial.

Settings/location: The study was conducted in an outpatient rheumatology clinic at the VA Medical Center of Philadelphia.