Does Acupressure Therapy Relieve Pain and Stress?
Recent reviews confirm that acupressure can significantly reduce anxiety and various types of pain, including labor-related discomfort. These findings support its potential as a non-pharmacological, accessible intervention in healthcare.
What the Science Says
Acupressure - a traditional therapy involving manual pressure on specific body points - has gained traction as a non-invasive alternative for managing psychological and physical discomforts. With increasing attention on non-drug treatments for anxiety and pain, researchers have undertaken systematic reviews and meta-analyses to evaluate acupressure’s clinical effectiveness. Together, these studies provide a clearer picture of where and how acupressure can be beneficial, especially in medical and wellness settings.
A 2022 meta-analysis of 27 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examined the effect of acupressure on anxiety. The findings revealed that acupressure significantly reduced anxiety symptoms compared to controls (standardized mean difference = 1.152; 95% CI: 0.847–1.459, p < 0.001), despite high heterogeneity among studies (I² = 91.3%). Subgroup analysis showed that preoperative and inpatient participants experienced the most benefit, especially when acupressure was delivered by finger massage. Some variation was linked to methodological quality and the use of massage equipment, suggesting that delivery method and context matter (Chen et al., 2022).
In parallel, acupressure’s use in pain management has also been extensively studied. A 2014 systematic review reviewed 15 trials involving individuals with dysmenorrhea, labor pain, low back pain, and chronic headaches. The evidence supported acupressure as an effective pain relief method across diverse populations, with the review endorsing its integration into nursing practice and clinical care routines (Chen & Wang, 2014).
Most recently, an updated 2025 review of 37 RCTs focused specifically on labor pain, finding that acupressure substantially reduced pain levels compared to touch, sham, and no-treatment groups. Points like SP6 were especially effective, although the GRADE assessment rated the certainty of evidence as moderate to low, due to variations in study quality and possible publication bias (Larki et al., 2025).
Overall, the evidence suggests that acupressure provides meaningful relief for both anxiety and pain, especially when applied in structured, clinical settings. However, due to variability in study design, practitioner technique, and outcome reporting, further well-controlled trials are needed to strengthen the evidence base.
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Real - World Performance
⚙️ Acupressure consistently reduces anxiety symptoms, particularly in preoperative and hospital-based contexts.
⚙️ It is effective across multiple types of pain, including menstrual, labor, and back pain, with stronger effects observed for labor pain relief at SP6.
⚙️ Manual application by trained providers tends to outperform equipment-based delivery in terms of efficacy.
⚙️ Though generally safe, adverse events were rarely reported, supporting its suitability as a low-risk intervention.
Good to Know
🔍 Acupressure is non-invasive and low-cost, making it suitable for use in community and hospital settings.
🔍 Effectiveness depends on point selection, duration of application, and practitioner skill.
🔍 Preoperative and labor patients appear to benefit most consistently.
🔍 Some studies reported mild adverse effects like soreness, but these were rare.
🔍 Variations in equipment and technique may explain inconsistent results across studies.
🔍 Psychological benefits may stem from both physiological and relaxation-based mechanisms.
🔍 It's important to distinguish between true acupressure and sham or placebo variants in trials.
🔍 Personalized application, based on patient condition and pain type, may optimize outcomes.
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Evidence-Based Reliability Score
The studies show strong effects and cover diverse populations, but high heterogeneity and moderate-to-low GRADE ratings lower the overall reliability. More standardized, high-quality trials are needed.
75%
The Consumer Takeaway
This body of research confirms that acupressure is a viable complementary intervention for managing both anxiety and physical pain. While it performs particularly well in clinical contexts like preoperative care and labor, its broader use is supported by safety, accessibility, and minimal side effects.
The method’s effectiveness can vary based on application type, target condition, and study quality. Still, the growing evidence base encourages its inclusion in integrated care models, especially where pharmacological options are limited or undesirable.
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