The effect of the combination of acupuncture and kinesiotherapy on upper cross syndrome based on mechanical balance principle:A randomized clinical trial

Objective:To observe the clinical effect of combined acupuncture and kinesiotherapy on upper cross syndrome(UCS) by a parallel randomized clinical trial.Methods:A total of 45 patients with UCS were recruited from the outpatients of AcupunctureMoxibustion,Tuina and Rehabilitation Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine,the students of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine and the patients from the nearby communities in accordance with the inclusion criteria.Using the random number table method,they were divided into a combined treatment group(acupuncture plus kinesiotherapy,23 cases) and a simple kinesiotherapy group(22 patients).Treatment for 4 weeks was one course,and two consecutive courses were required.The visual analog scale(VAS) score,the score of the assessment scale for cervical spondylosis,the value of surface electromyography(root mean square,RMS),and the cervical curvature value were used in the evaluation.The allocation scheme was concealed from the outcome assessors.Results:The data from 23 cases of the combined treatment group and 22 cases of the simple kinesiotherapy group were analyzed.Before treatment,the differences were not statistically significant in the general conditions,VAS score,assessment score of cervical spondylosis,cervical curvature value,and RMS in UCS patients between the two groups(all P> 0.05).After treatment,the VAS score was reduced compared with that before treatment in both groups(all P <0.05).In two courses of treatment,the VAS score decreased as compared with that in one course of treatment in both groups(both P <0.05),and the VAS score in the combined treatment group decreased more obviously after each course of treatment(both P <0.05).The RMS decreased compared with that before treatment in each group(both P <0.05),and the decrease in the combined treatment group was more obvious(P <0.05).After treatment of each course,the assessment score was all increased as compared with that before treatment in two groups(all P <0.05).In two courses of treatment,the assessment score was increased as compared with that in one course of treatment in both groups(both P <0.05),and the score in the combined treatment group was increased more obviously in the two courses of treatment(P <0.05).Regarding either the intra-group comparison or the inter-group comparison before and after treatment,the differences were not statistically significant(all P> 0.05),suggesting no obvious improvement of cervical curvature in the two courses of treatment in patients with UCS.However,cervical curvature tended to improve in the combined treatment group.The total effective rate was significantly different between the two groups(P <0.05),indicating that the total effective rate in the combined treatment group was better than that in the simple kinesiotherapy group.No any adverse reactions occurred.Conclusion:Combined treatment with acupuncture,kinesiotherapy,and kinesiotherapy alleviated pain,relieved the symptoms and physical signs,and improved the daily movement of the patients.However,the combined treatment of acupuncture and kinesiotherapy had a much better effect on UCS.