MULTI-CENTER RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS OF COMBINED TREATMENT OF VERTEBRAL ARTERY TYPE CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS WITH ACUPUNCTURE AND MASSAGE

Objective:To evaluate the clinical value of synthetical therapy of acupuncture and massage for treating vertebral artery type cervical spondylosis (VACS). Methods: In the present study, triple-center, single-blind, randomized and control methods were adopted. Qualified subjects were randomly assigned to three groups: acupuncture-massage (acu-mas) group, acupuncture group, and massage group (60 subjects in each group). Bilateral Fengchi (风池GB 20), Jiaji (夹脊EX-B 2, C_ 4-7) and Baihui (百会GV 20) were punctured in combination with massage at the neck-shoulder and back region. The treatment was conducted once daily, 14 times altogether. Results: After treatment, of the 60 cases in each of acu-mas, acupuncture and massage groups, 28, 11 and 13 were cured, 13, 20 and 17 markedly effective, 12, 14 and 16 effective, and 7, 15 and 14 ineffective, with the total effective rates being 88.3%, 75.0% and 76.7% respectively. The therapeutic effect of acu-mas group was significantly superior to that of simple acupuncture and massage groups (P<0.05). The scores of clinical symptoms and signs in 3 groups all declined significantly after treatment (P<0.01), and the score of symptoms of acu-mas was markedly lower than those of acupuncture and massage groups (P<0.05). No significant differences were found among 3 groups in the score of clinical signs and between acupuncture and massage groups in the score of clinical symptoms (P>0.05). The time for producing therapeutic effects in acu-mas group was significantly shorter than those of acupuncture and massage groups (P<0.01, 0.05), meaning a faster of acu-mas group in producing clinical effect. No adverse events were found in all the 3 groups. Conclusion: Acupuncture and massage are effective and safe in the treatment of VACS, and the therapeutic effect of acupuncture combined with massage is superior to that of simple acupuncture and simple massage therapy.

OBSERVATION ON THE THERAPEUTIC EFFECT OF ACPUNCTURE COMBINED WITH MASSAGE FOR CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS OF VERTEBRAL ARTERIAL TYPE BY USING TRANCRANIAL DOPPLYER ULTRASONOGRAPHY

Objective: To observe the effect of acupuncture combined with massage on blood flow velocity of the vertebro-basilar artery in cervical spondylosis of vertebral arterial type (CSVAT) patients. Methods: In the present study, methods of evidence-based medicine, triple-centers, single-blindness, randomization and control were used. A total of 100 cases of CSVAT patients were randomized into acupuncture plus massage (acu-massage) group (n=38), acupuncture group (n=32) and massage group (n=30). Acupoints used were Fengchi (风池GB 20), cervical Jiaji (颈夹脊EX-B 2), Baihui (百会GV 20), and the methods of massage used were kneading-rolling, adhesion-separating and acupoint-digital pressing, topical digital pressing and rubbing, traction-extending and mild palm-rubbing. The treatment was conducted once daily, with 7 sessions being a therapeutic course and continuously for 2 courses. Changes of peak velocity (Vp), end-diastolic velocity (Vd), mean velocity (Vm) of blood flow of the vertebral artery (VA) and basilar artery (BA), etc were detected before and after the treatment by using transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonography. Results: After the treatment, the abnormally low Vp of both VA and BA in acu-massage, acupuncture and massage groups, Vm of VA in acu-massage and acupuncture groups, Vm of BA in acu-massage and massage groups, and Vd of VA and BA in the 3 groups all increased significantly in comparison with their own pretreatment (P<0.05, 0.01), and the therapeutic effects of acu-massage group in the 3 indexes were significantly superior to those of acupuncture group and/or massage group (P<0.05, 0.01). The abnormally increased Vp of VA in acu-massage and acupuncture groups, Vm of VA in the 3 groups, and Vd of VA in acu-massage and massage groups decreased obviously after the treatment in comparison with their own pretreatment (P<0.05, 0.01), and the therapeutic effects of acu-massage group were significantly superior to those of acupuncture and/or massage group in the 3 indexes of VA (P<0.05, 0.01). In addition, the abnormally increased Vp, Vm and Vd of BA in the 3 groups showed a similar tendency. No significant differences between acupuncture and massage groups in 3 indexes (P>0.05). Conclusion: The therapeutic effects of acupuncture plus massage is significantly superior to those of simple acupuncture and simple massage therapies in improving abnormal blood dynamics of vertebral and basilar arteries in CSVAT patients.