Therapeutic Effect of Warm Needling Therapy Combined with Rehabilitation Therapy for Brachial Plexus Injury after Surgery

Objective： To observe the therapeutic effect of warm needling therapy plus rehabilitation in treating brachial plexus injury after surgery. Methods： Thirty patients suffered from brachial plexus injury after surgery were divided into two groups randomly, 16 in each group. The treatment group was intervened by warm needling therapy together with physical rehabilitation therapy. The control group was intervened by physical rehabilitation therapy only. The warm needling was given once every other day, 3 times a week, 2 weeks as a treatment course, and 2 consecutive courses in total. The physical rehabilitation therapy was given once every day, 5 times a week, 2 weeks as a treatment course, and 2 consecutive courses in total. The Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand （DASH） Questionnaire were respectively used to assess pain and Ability of Daily Living （ADL）. The therapeutic effects were compared and analyzed. Results： In the treatment group, 14 patients finished 2-course treatment but 2 dropped out; in the control group, 15 finished but 1 dropped out. After treatment, there were significant differences between the two groups in comparing Sensory Pain Rating Index （S-PRI）, Affective Pain Rating Index （A-PRI）, Total Pain Rating Index （T-PRI）, Visual Analogue Scale （VAS）, Present Pain Index （PPI）, and DASH scores （P〈O.01）. The scores of all items in the treatment group had marked changes after 2 treatment courses in comparing the scores before treatment （P〈0.01）. Conclusion： The therapeutic effect of warm needling therapy combined with rehabilitation therapy is more effective than that of physical rehabilitation therapy only.

Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect of warm needling therapy plus rehabilitation in treating brachial plexus injury after surgery. Methods: Thirty patients suffered from brachial plexus injury after surgery were divided into two groups randomly, 16 in each group. The treatment group was intervened by warm needling therapy together with physical rehabilitation therapy. The control group was intervened by physical rehabilitation therapy only. The warm needling was given once every other day, 3 times a week, 2 weeks as a treatment course, and 2 consecutive courses in total. The physical rehabilitation therapy was given once every day, 5 times a week, 2 weeks as a treatment course, and 2 consecutive courses in total. The Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) Questionnaire were respectively used to assess pain and Ability of Daily Living (ADL). The therapeutic effects were compared and analyzed. Results: In the treatment group, 14 patients finished 2-course treatment but 2 dropped out; in the control group, 15 finished but 1 dropped out. After treatment, there were significant differences between the two groups in comparing Sensory Pain Rating Index (S-PRI), Affective Pain Rating Index (A-PRI), Total Pain Rating Index (T-PRI), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Present Pain Index (PPI), and DASH scores (P<0.01). The scores of all items in the treatment group had marked changes after 2 treatment courses in comparing the scores before treatment (P<0.01). Conclusion: The therapeutic effect of warm needling therapy combined with rehabilitation therapy is more effective than that of physical rehabilitation therapy only.