To summarize and assess evidence regarding the effects of acupressure on duration of labor and mode of delivery.
Four major databases and Google Scholar were searched using terms related to labor and acupressure, without language restrictions, up to November 2015.
Randomized controlled trials were included if they examined the effect of acupressure at any acupoint during childbirth on duration of labor and/or mode of delivery.
Two reviewers independently extracted data. The outcome measures were duration of labor and mode of delivery. Random-effects models were used to pool results.
Thirteen studies were included in meta-analyses. Acupressure increased the chance of vaginal delivery when compared with placebo/no intervention (odds ratio [OR] 2.329, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.348–4.024, P = 0.002; risk difference [RD] 8.9%, 95% CI 2.7%–15.0%, P = 0.005). Acupressure decreased the duration of the active phase by 1.310 hours (95% CI –1.738 to –0.882; P < 0.001) and the second stage of labor by 5.808 minutes (95% CI –1.615 to –0.807; P < 0.001).
Acupressure could have a role in reducing the rate of cesarean delivery and decreasing the duration of labor in parturient women. However, there is a need for more reliable randomized controlled trials.