Korean Clinical Research Trends in Heated-Needle Acupuncture: Scoping Review

Objectives This study investigated trends in Korean clinical research on heated-needle acupuncture, with a focus on its predominant indications and associated techniques, to enhance its clinical application and propose directions for future research.Methods This scoping review was guided by the five-step Arksey and O'Malley framework and adhered to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses extension for scoping reviews checklist.The databases Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, Korean studies Information Service System, Research Information Sharing Service, and ScienceON were searched for Korean research published up to May 31, 2024.The search terms included fire needle, heated needle, heating-conduction acupuncture, and hwachim.Results The analysis included 26 Korean studies, which consisted of 13 case reports and primarily addressed musculoskeletal disorders.The most common conditions were lumbosacral diseases (9 studies), with a focus on injuries to dense connective tissues (e.g., ligaments and tendons).The technique typically involved needle insertion 1 to 2 cm from the skin at tender points.Heating duration was reported in 14 studies, 8 of which indicated durations shorter than 10 seconds.In 12 studies, heating duration was guided by patient responses to heat and pain.Conclusions Enhancing the clinical applicability of heated-needle acupuncture requires three types of studies: rigorous high-quality trials using heated-needle acupuncture as a standalone intervention, comparative effectiveness research against other traditional therapies, and standardization efforts to ensure consistent technique application. (