Clinical Observation on Comprehensive Treatment on Cutaneous Region for Low Back Pain

Objective： To observe the clinical effects of comprehensive treatmenton cutaneous region for low back pain. Methods： One hundred and twenty outpatients with low back pain who met the diagnostic criteria were randomly divided into a cutaneous region group or a medication group, 60 cases in each group. The cases in the cutaneous region group were treated by Nie-pinching up the skin of the lumbosacral region, cupping and acupuncture. Those in the medication group were treated by oral administration of Celecoxib capsule. The visual analogue scale （VAS） and Oswestry disability index （ODI） were used to assess the therapeutic effects. Results： After treatment, the VAS scores of both groups were different from those before treatment, showing statistical significances （allP＆lt;0.01）. The D-valuse of VAS scores of both groups were different from those before treatment, showing statistical significances （allP＆lt;0.01）. The D-value of OID scores in the cutaneous region group was significantly different from that in the medication group（P＆lt;0.01）. After treatment, the total effective rate was 91.7% in the cutaneous region group versus 76.7% in the medication group, there was a significant difference in comparing the clinical effect （P＆lt;0.01）. Conclusion： Both comprehensive treatment on the cutaneous region and Celecoxib capsule can obviously relieve low back pain. But comprehensive treatment on the cutaneous region is better than Celecoxib capsule in the therapeutic effects.

Immediate Effects of Hegu Needling on Adhesive Scapulohumeral Periarthritis

Objective： To observe the immediate effects of Hegu needling at Ash points in patients with adhesive scapulohumeral periarthritis （SP）. Methods： A total of 60 SP cases were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 30 in each group. Cases in the treatment group were treated with Hegu needling at Ashi points and normal needling at other local points. Cases in the control group were treated with normal needling at local points alone. The therapeutic efficacy was then evaluated and analyzed using short-form of McGill pain questionnaire （SF-MPO.） and Japanese Orthopaedic Association （JOA） shoulder scoring system. Results： Hegu needling at Ashi points can substantially alleviate pain in patients with adhesive SP, showing a statistically significant difference when compared with the control group （P〈0.01 or P〈0.05）. In addition, cases in the treatment group obtained better effects in abductor muscle strength, endurance, arm raising, internal rotation, external rotation, activities of daily living （ADL） and joint stability than those in the control group （P〈0.01 or P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Hegu needling at Ashi points is effective for adhesive SP

Therapeutic Efficacy Observation on Combining Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Fumigation for Cervical Radiculopathy

Objective： To observe the clinical effect of needling eight neck points and Chinese herbal fumigation for cervical radiculopathy. Methods： A total of 85 cases who met the inclusion criteria of cervical radiculopathy were allocated into a Jiaji （EX-B 2） points group, an eight neck points group and a comprehensive therapy group according to single-blind randomized controlled trial design. The 27 cases in the Jiaji （EX-B 2） points group were treated with needling cervical Jiaji （EX-B 2） points. The 28 cases in the eight neck points group were treated with needling the eight neck points. The 30 cases in the comprehensive therapy group were treated with needling the eight neck points coupled with Chinese herbal fumigation over the affected area. Before and after treatment, the symptoms of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） were graded and the short-form McGill pain questionnaire （SF-MQP） was employed to test pain rating index （PRI）, visual analogue scale （VAS） and present pain intensity （PPI）. In addition, therapeutic efficacies were compared among three groups. Results： After treatment, all SF-MPO, scores in three groups were significantly reduced, and there were inter-group statistical significant in comparison of scores differences between before and after treatment （P〈O.01）; there were inter-group statistical differences in the total effective rate （P〈O.05）. Conclusion： Needling the cervical Jiaji （EX-B 2） points and eight neck points can both alleviate pain in cervical radiculopathy patient. However, combining needling the eight neck points and Chinese herbal fumigation can obtain the better effect.

Therapeutic Efficacy Observation on Combining Intermittent Traction with Warm Needling for Cervical Radiculopathy

Objective:To observe the clinical effect of combined intermittent traction with warm needling for cervical radiculopathy.Methods:A total of 100 cases with cervical radiculopathy were randomly allocated into an observation group and a control group.Cases in the observation group were treated with intermittent traction coupled with warm needling,whereas cases in the control group were treated with warm needling alone.The therapeutic efficacy was observed after 20-day treatment.Results:The markedly effective rate in total was 90.0%in the observation group,versus 78.0%in the control group,showing a statistically significant difference(P<0.05).Conclusion:Combining intermittent traction with warm needling is safe,convenient and significantly effective for cervical radiculopathy.It is worth further popularization in clinical practice.

Therapeutic Observation on Heat-sensitive Moxibustion plus Acupoint Injection for Ankylosing Spondylitis

Objective： To observe the clinical efficacy of heat-sensitive moxibustion plus acupoint injection in treating ankylosing spondylitis （AS）. Methods： Totally 116 subjects with AS were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 58 each. The treatment group was intervened by heat-sensitive moxibustion plus acupoint injection, and the control was by oral medication. Therapeutic efficacy was evaluated after 3 treatment courses. Results： The markedly effective rate was 38.9% and the total effective rate was 96.6% in the treatment group versus 11.9% and 67.8% in the control group. The markedly effective rate and total effective rate in the treatment group were significantly higher than those in the control group （p〈o.os）. Conclusion： Heat-sensitive moxibustion combining with acupoint injection has better therapeutic efficacy than oral medication in treating AS, and it＇s easy-to-operate without adverse reactions.

Treatment of 30 Cases of Vertigo due to Qi-blood Deficiency by Pricking Jingbailao (EX-HN 15) with Fire Needle Therapy

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of fire needle therapy on vertigo due to qi-blood deficiency by pricking Jingbailao (EX-HN 15). Methods: Thirty cases with vertigo due to qi-blood deficiency in conformity with the inclusion criteria were treated with fire needle therapy by pricking Jingbailao (EX-HN15), once every day, seven sessions as one course. The clinical effects were assessed after one course of treatment. Results: After one-course treatment, the results showed cure in 3 cases, remarkable effect in 14 cases, effect in 11 cases and failure in 2 cases out of 30 cases. Conclusion: Fire needle therapy by pricking Jingbailao (EX-HN15) can obviously relieve the clinical symptoms in patients with vertigo due to qi-blood deficiency.

Therapeutic Efficacy Observation on Point-toward-point Acupuncture Combined with Herbs Iontophoresis for Knee Osteoarthritis

Objective： To observe the clinical efficacy of point-toward-point acupuncture combined with herbs iontophoresis in treating knee osteoarthritis. Methods： A total of 100 patients were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group, 50 cases in each. Patients in the treatment group received point-toward-point acupuncture with long needle combined with herbs iontophoresis treatment; while those in the control group were only treated by point-toward-point acupuncture with long needle. Clinical efficacies of the two groups were compared after treatment. Results： The total effective rate was 92.0% in the treatment group, versus 82.0% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant （P〈O.05）. Conclusion： The point-toward-point acupuncture with long needle combined with herbs iontophoresis treatment for knee osteoarthritis has a significant effect.

Effect of Tuina on Neurodevelopment in Premature Infants with Brain Injury

Objective： To investigate the effect of tuina on promoting neurodevelopment of premature infants with brain injury. Methods： A total of 82 cases who met the inclusion criteria were randomized into an intervention group and a control group. In addition to early conventional intervention （Chinese medicinal bath therapy and physical training）, specific tuina manipulations （aims to unblock the Governor Vessel, refresh the brain, benefit the kidney and strengthen the spleen） were combined in the intervention group, whereas comforting touch in the control group. The rehabilitation assessments were then made prior to treatment and three months after the treatment using Gross Motor Function Measure （GMFM）, Bayley Scales of Infant Development-II （BSID-II） and Gesell Developmental Schedules （GDS） based Developmental Quotient （DQ）. Results： The DQ in all GDS areas and scores of GMFM A and B dimensions were significantly increased in both groups after the treatment （P〈0.01）. The DQ and population mean of GMFM B dimension in the intervention group were higher than those in the control group, showing statistical differences （P〈0.05）. However, in terms of Mental Development Index （MDI） and Physical Development Index （PDI） in both groups, there were no statistical differences before and after treatments. Conclusion： Both methods combined with conventional early intervention can help to improve the mental and motor development of infants with brain injury. However, the specific tuina manipulations have been proved more effective in improving the infants＇ gross motor function, particularly the ＂sitting＂ item.

Clinical Study on Puncturing Houxi (SI 3) Toward Hegu (LI 4) plus Lumbar Movement for Acute Lumbar Sprain

Objective： To observe the therapeutic efficacy of puncturing Houxi （SI 3） toward Hegu （LI 4） plus lumbar movement in treating acute lumbar sprain. Methods： A total of 212 patients with acute lumbar sprain were randomized into two groups. There were 106 subjects in the observation group who were treated with puncturing Houxi （SI 3） toward Hegu （LI 4） plus lumbar movement; the other 106 patients in the control group were treated with puncturing Houxi （SI 3） toward Hegu （LI 4） alone. Therapeutic efficacy was evaluated after 2 treatment courses. Results： The total effective rate was 95.3% in the observation group versus 88.7% in the control group, and the difference was statistically insignificant between the two groups （P〉O.05）. However, in comparing the treatment times for achieving recovery and effectiveness, differences between the two groups were statistically significant （both P〈O.05）, indicating that integrated use of acupuncture and exercise is faster in realizing therapeutic effectiveness. Conclusion： By selecting fewer acupoints, puncturing Houxi （Sl 3） toward Hegu （LI 4） is effective in treating acute lumbar sprain, and with the help of lumbar movement, it can achieve even better treatment effect.

Acupuncture Combined with Tuina Treatment for Infantile Diarrhea

Objective： To observe the effect of acupuncture combined with Tuina for nfantile diarrhea. Methods： One hundred and twenty patients met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into two groups at the ratio of 2：1, and there were 80 cases in the treatment group while 40 cases in the control group. The patients in the treatment group were treated with acupuncture combined with tuina, while those in the control group were treated with medication. The effects of two groups were compared after a 3-day treatment. Results： The total effective rate was 97.5% in the treatment group, versus 87.5% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant （P〈0.05）. After 48-hour treatments, the antidiarrheal effect of the treatment group was better than that of the control group （P〈O.05）. Conclusion： Acupuncture combined tuina treatment is effective for nfantile diarrhea and works fast.

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.

Warm Needling Moxibustion for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of warm needling moxibustion for knee osteoarthritis(KOA) by a randomized controlled trial. Methods: Sixty cases with KOA were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. The observation group was treated by warm needling moxibustion. The control group was treated by simple acupuncture. Ten sessions made one course and the two groups were treated for two courses. The scores of knee joint pain, stiffness and knee functions before and after the treatment were observed. Results: The scores of Western Ontario and Mc Master Universities osteoarthritis index(WOMAC) on pain, stiffness and joint functions before and after treatment in both groups were statistically different(all P<0.05). The comparisons of the scores in pain, stiffness and joint function after treatment between the two groups were all statistically different(all P<0.05). The total effective rate was 93.3% in the observation group and 80.0% in the control group. The differences of the clinical effects between the two groups were statistically significant(P<0.05). Conclusion: Warm needling moxibustion can improve the clinical symptoms and functions of the patients with KOA, and is better than ordinary acupuncture in the therapeutic effect.

Clinical Observation of Fire-needle Therapy plus Tuina for Senile Knee Osteoarthritis

Objective： To observe the therapeutic efficacy of fire-needle therapy plus tuina in treating primary knee osteoarthritis （KOA） in the elderly. Methods： Twenty-three patients with KOA were intervened by pricking with fire-needle therapy plus tuina, and evaluated by using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index （WOMAC） before and after intervention. Results： After intervention, the total score, scores of pain, rigidity, and activities of daily living of WOMAC dropped significantly （P＆lt;0.05）. Conclusion： Pricking with fire needle plus tuina can produce a significant therapeutic efficacy in treating KOA in the elderly, thus worth application in clinic.

Therapeutic Efficacy Observation on Combining Acupuncture,Tuina and Functional Exercise for Transverse Process Syndrome of the Third Lumbar Vertebra

Objective： To observe the clinical effect of combining acupuncture, tuina and functional exercise for transverse process syndrome of the third lumbar vertebra. Methods： A total of 90 cases were randomly allocated into an observation group and a medication group. The 48 cases in the observation group were treated with acupuncture, tuina and functional exercise, whereas the 42 cases in the medication group were treated with Ibuprofen sustained release capsules. Before and after treatment, the short-form McGill pain questionnaire （SF-MPQ） was employed to observe the changes in pain rating index （PRI）, visual analogue scale （VAS） and present pain intensity （PPI）. In addition, therapeutic efficacies were compared between two groups. Results： The total effective rate in the observation group was 97.9%, versus 61.9% in the medication group, showing a statistical difference （P〈O.05）. After treatment, there were statistical differences between the two groups in sensory PRI score, affective PRI score, total PRI score, VAS score and PPI score （P〈O.05）; and there were also statistical differences between two groups in clinical sign scoring （P〈O.05）. After 4 and 8 weeks of treatment, there was a statistical difference between the two groups in re^apse rate （P〈O.05）. Conclusion： Combining acupuncture, tuina and functional exercise can obtain better effects and has a lower relapse rate than Ibuprofen sustained release capsules for transverse process syndrome of the third lumbar vertebra.

Qi-guiding Needling Based on Meridian Differentiation for Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Multi-centered, Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective： To observe differentiation plus qi-gu （LDH）. the efficacy of acupoint ding needling in treating selection by meridian lumbar disc herniation Methods： By using the random number table, 549 patients with LDH were randomized into two groups. Two hundred and eighty participants in the observation group were intervened by selecting acupoints by meridian differentiation associated with qi-guiding needling method, and the other 269 participants in the control group were by selecting acupoints by meridian differentiation plus electroacupuncture. At the end of intervention, the changes of conduction velocities of the common peroneal nerve, superficial peroneal nerve, and tibial nerve were observed, and the therapeutic efficacies were compared. Results： The total effective rate was 87.5% in the observation group versus 86.6% in the control group, and the difference was statistically insignificant （P〉0.05）. The recovery rate was 51.8% in the observation group versus 37.2% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Selecting acupoints by meridian differentiation associated with qi-guiding needling can produce a similar total effective rate to selecting acupoints by meridian differentiation plus electroacupuncture, while its recovery rate is comparatively higher.

Observation on Clinical Effect of Superficial Needling for Intractable Humeral Epicondylitis

Objective： To observe the clinical effect of superficial needling for ntractable humeral epicondylitis. Methods： Sixty cases in conformity with the inclusion criteria of intractable humeral epicondylitis were randomly divided into two groups, 30 cases in each. The cases in the superficial needling group were treated by superficial needling plus moxibustion, while those in the electro- acupuncture （EA） group were treated by EA plus moxibustion. After treatment, the improvement of the clinical symptoms and signs were compared between the two groups. Results： The curative rate was 80.0% and the total effective rate was 96.7% in the superficial needling group. The curative rate was 60.0% and the total effective rate was 83.3% in the EA group. The differences in the clinical effects between the two groups were statistically significant （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： The therapeutic effect of superficial needling plus moxibustion for intractable humeral epicondylitis is better than that of EA plus moxibustion.

Clinical Study on Treatment of Cervical Spondylotic Radiculopathy by Electroacupuncture plus Tuina

Objective: To observe the clinical effects of electroacupuncture(EA) plus tuina for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy. Methods: One hundred and twenty cases with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy were divided randomly by the digital table into the observation group and control group. The patients in an observation group were treated by EA plus tuina techniques. The patients in the control group were treated by simple tuina techniques. Results: The total effective rate was 91.7% in the observation group and 78.3% in the control group. The effective rates in the two groups were statistically different(P<0.05). Conclusion: EA plus tuina therapy is better than simple tuina therapy in the treatment of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy.

Clinical Observation on Acupuncture Combined with Hyperbaric Oxygenation in Treating Patients with Cervical Spondylosis of Nerve Root Type in Acute Phase

Objective： To observe the therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture combined with hyperbaric oxygenation for cervical spondylosis of nerve root type in acute phase. Methods： One hundred cases with cervical spondylosis of nerve root type in acute phase were randomly divided into two groups, with 50 patients in each group. The patients in the treatment group were treated by acupuncture combined with hyperbaric oxygenation, and those in the control group only received the same acupuncture therapy as the treatment group. The therapeutic efficacy was evaluated after 2 courses of treatment. Results： In the treatment group, 27cases were cured, 9 cases showed markedly effective, and 4 cases were invalid, and the recovery rate was 67.5%, the total effective rate was 90.0%; in the control group, 18 cases were cured, 17 cases showed markedly effective, 15 cases were invalid, and the recovery rate was 36.0%, the total effective rate was 70.0%. There were statistically significant differences between two groupsin the recovery rate and the total effective rate （bothP＆lt;0.05）. The average cure time of the treatment group was （15.56＆#177;7.13） d, and that of the control group was （22.13＆#177;7.78） d, which also had significant difference between the two groups （P＆lt;0.05）. Conclusion： Acupuncture combined with hyperbaric oxygenationhas rapid and reliable effects for cervical spondylosis of nerve root type in acute phase.

Clinical Analysis of Acupuncture Combined with Tuina in Treating Cervical Vertigo

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture combined with tuina in treating patients with cervical vertigo. Methods: According to the principle of randomization, 258 cases with cervical vertigo who met the inclusion criteria for the study were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, with 129 cases in each. The patients in the observation group received acupuncture combined with tuina therapy, while those in the control group were just treated by the same acupuncture therapy as in the observation group. After 10-day continuous treatments, the clinical efficacies of the two groups were analyzed and compared. Results: The total effective rate of the observation group was 100%, versus 86.0% of the control group, and the difference was significant(P<0.05). After treatment, cervical range of motion(ROM) scores in both groups were statistically significantly different from those before treatment(all P<0.05); in addition, there was a statistically significant difference in inter-group comparison of ROM score(P<0.05). Conclusion: Compared with simple acupuncture treatment, acupuncture combined with tuina therapy has a better effect in improving the ROM of cervical vertigo patients, with higher clinical efficacy.

Diagnosis and Objective Pain Assessment of Traditional Chinese Medicine May Be Useful to Demonstrate Specific Effects of Acupuncture in Low Back Pain: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled and Single Blinded Pre-study

Objective: To prove specific effects of acupuncture on chronic pain. It was speculated that the potential specific effectiveness of acupuncture could be better shown in more properly designed studies. Therefore, diagnoses of both Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) were used as inclusion criteria to allocate acupoints more precisely to the complaints of the patients. Secondly, objectively measurable parameters of pain relief in addition to usual Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were chosen to quantify the effects of acupuncture. Methods: The study was prospective, randomized, controlled and single-blinded. Eighteen patients with chronic back pain and TCM diagnosis of a Taiyang/Yangming syndrome received one single session of acupuncture chosen according to TCM diagnosis or acupuncture on points outside the meridian system (controls). We evaluated pain via VAS and increased mobility via inclinometry of the back. Results: Although the sample size was small, there was a statistically significant improvement in pain and mobility in the intervention group (n=13), but not in the control group (n=5). The calculated sample size adequate power was lower for inclinometry than for VAS, indicating that VAS is less probable to discriminate acupuncture effects. Conclusion: Objectively measurable physical parameters such as the angle of flexion before and after acupuncture (inclinometry) may be more suitable to measure pain relief than subjective assessment by VAS in acupuncture studies. TCM diagnosis may be a helpful inclusion criterion in studies on acupuncture, so as to potentially allocate interventions better to the complaints of patients.