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.