ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture at Houxi (SI 3) and medicine on acute lumbar sprain.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three hundred cases of acute lumbar sprain were randomly divided into two groups, a electroacupuncture (EA) group and a medication group, 150 cases in each group. The EA group were treated with EA at Houxi (SI 3), once each day, 3 sessions constituting one course, and the medication group with Mobike, once daily, 7. 5 mg each time. Their therapeutic effects were evaluated after treatment for 7 days and one month respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>For the short-term therapeutic effect, the effective rate was 97. 3% in the EA group and 89. 2% in the medication group with a very significant difference between the two groups (P<0. 01); for the long-term therapeutic effect, the effective rate was 99. 3% in the EA group and 93. 2% in the medication group with a very significant difference between the two groups (P<0. 01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Both the short-term and the long-term therapeutic effects of EA at Houxi (SI 3) on acute lumbar sprain are better than those in the medication group.</p>