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Self-acupressure reduces pain and improves sleep quality in patients with osteoarthritis

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 23 studies (2639 participants) found that self-acupressure was associated with significant reductions in pain (VAS at week 1: SMD = -0.52; WOMAC pain at week 4: SMD = -0.39) and improved sleep quality (PSQI at week 8: SMD = -0.86). The intervention also improved health-related quality of life (SF-6D at week 8: SMD = 0.17). Adverse events were minor and transient, but evidence quality was low-to-moderate with heterogeneity and risk of bias concerns.

Last updated: Aug 23, 2026•0 RCTs•1 Meta-analyses•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score48/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis★★★☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Self-acupressure for osteoarthritis self-management and nursing care outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

observational

Kou H, Liu H, Lai L, Yang S, Zhang X, Sun Y, Xu Y, Chen B · Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.) (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: Up to 8 weeks (based on outcome measurements)
Intervention: Self-acupressure (self-administered acupressure) as a non-pharmacological intervention
Outcome: Pain (VAS, WOMAC pain), sleep quality (PSQI), health-related quality of life (SF-6D)
Effect Size: Pain VAS week 1: SMD = -0.52; WOMAC pain week 4: SMD = -0.39; PSQI week 8: SMD = -0.86; SF-6D week 8: SMD = 0.17
Population: Patients with osteoarthritis (OA), including older adults with chronic joint pain

Result:

PubMed: 42623907DOI: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2026.104288

Mechanism Graph

Self-acupressure stimulates specific acupoints on the body
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This may trigger local and central analgesic effects
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It may also promote relaxation and improve sleep regulation
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Result: Reduced pain and improved sleep quality in OA patients

Limitations

  • ⚠Moderate heterogeneity across studies
  • ⚠Risk of bias concerns in included trials
  • ⚠Limited long-term data and inconsistent reporting of adverse events

Frequently Asked Questions

What is self-acupressure?▼

Self-acupressure is a technique where individuals apply pressure to specific acupoints on their own body, similar to acupuncture but without needles, to relieve symptoms.

How effective is self-acupressure for osteoarthritis pain?▼

The meta-analysis found moderate effect sizes for pain reduction, with SMD of -0.52 on VAS at week 1 and -0.39 on WOMAC pain at week 4, indicating clinically meaningful improvement.

Does self-acupressure improve sleep in osteoarthritis patients?▼

Yes, the analysis showed a significant improvement in sleep quality as measured by PSQI at week 8 (SMD = -0.86), suggesting a large effect.

Is self-acupressure safe?▼

Reported adverse events were minor and transient, but systematic reporting was inconsistent across trials, so safety data should be interpreted cautiously.

Products

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References

  1. 1.Kou H, Liu H, Lai L, Yang S, Zhang X, Sun Y, Xu Y, Chen B. "Self-acupressure for osteoarthritis self-management and nursing care outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.." Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.), 2026. PMID: 42623907 DOI: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2026.104288
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.