Comparative Efficacy of Canggui Tanxue Acupuncture Combined with Scapular Stabilization Training versus Scapular Stabilization Training Alone for Rotator Cuff Injury: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Aim: acupunc-ture combined with scapular stabilization training (SST) versus SST alone for mild-to-moderate rotator cuff injuries (RCI) in a real-world clinical setting. Methods: acupuncture (Combination group, n = 80). Primary outcomes included shoulder function (American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons [ASES] score), pain intensity (Visual Analog Scale [VAS]), active range of motion (ROM), quality of life (Short Form-36 [SF-36]), and clinical efficacy rates. Data were extracted from electronic medical records. Results: < 0.001). Effect sizes were large for ASES (Cohen's d=1.42) and VAS (d=-1.89). The number needed to treat (NNT) for achieving excellent efficacy was 3.48. Conclusions and Implications: acupuncture with SST yields clinically meaningful improvements in shoulder function, pain relief, and quality of life for mild-to-moderate RCI patients, surpassing SST alone. These findings support the adoption of this combined approach in routine clinical practice, particularly given its high efficacy (NNT = 3.48) and large effect sizes.