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Objective To investigate the effect of acupuncture combined with meridian oxygen therapy on the balance function in convalescent stroke patients.Methods A total of 120 convalescent stroke patients who met the inclusion criteria were divided into 2 groups by random number table method,60 patients in each group.The control group received conventional rehabilitation exercise,and the observation group received acupuncture combined with meridian oxygen therapy on the basis of the control group.Both groups were treated for 4 weeks.The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) was used to evaluate the patients' balance ability,and the therapeutic effect was evaluated according to the change of BBS score before and after treatment.Results The total effective rate was 95.0％ (57/60) in the observation group and 78.3％ (47/60) in the control group,which presented the statistically significant difference between the two groups (x2=13.072,P＜0.01).After 4 weeks treatment,the BBS score of the observation group (46.76 ± 10.82 vs.38.41 ± 10.73,t=-2.575) was significantly higher than that of the control group (P＜0.05).Conclusions acupuncture combined with meridian oxygen therapy can obviously improve the balance and coordination ability of stroke convalescent patients and improve the quality of life of patients.
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We examined the effect of acupuncture treatment in the supine position, sitting position, and horseback riding posture on a horseback riding simulator at a standstill from the aspects of physical movement, psychological assessment, and autonomic nerve activity. Twenty-nine university students suffering from pain and stiffness during lateral hip flexion and extension movement of the Straight Leg Raising and movement of the neck and shoulders were randomly assigned to the supine position, sitting position, and horseback riding posture, and a tape-type press needle was attached at four acupuncture points on both lower limbs. Regarding the measuring method, we conducted M-Test movement assessment, two-dimensional mood standard (TDMS-ST), and heart rate variability analysis. There was no difference in the baseline among the three groups prior to the experiment and the improvement in the movement of the neck, SLR, and hip flexion (knee flexed position) for all three groups along with the comfort level of TDMS-ST significantly increased following treatment. Moreover, while we also observed a significant increase in HF (parasympathetic activity index) for all three groups following treatment, no change was observed in the LF/HF ratio (sympathetic activity index). These findings suggest that the stimulation from the press needle by the M-Test method achieved a relaxing effect regardless of the posture because the stimulation had a low degree of invasiveness, and it was also not associated with any pain.
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Objective The clinical manifestations of Parkinson''s disease (PD) are divided into non-motor symptoms and motor symptoms.Constipation is one of the common symptoms of non-motor symptoms of the disease.Constipation symptoms in PD generally occur earlier for 5~20 years, while drug treatment for PD constipation can lead to gastrointestinal damage.This study investigated the improvement in the treatment of anorectal dynamics and constipation symptoms in Parkinson''s disease by oral mosapride and press-needle therapy of Shu-Mu point.Methods 60 patients diagnosed as constipation of Parkinson''s disease were randomly divided into control group and treatment group, 30 cases in each group;patients in the control group were treated with oral mosapride tablets, while patients in the treatment group received press-needle therapy, three times per week.The observation course in both groups last for three months and follow-up visits were conducted before and after the course.Efficacy evaluation, PAC-QOL scale and anorectal dynamic examination were applied in the follow-up visit.Results The efficiency of treatment group was 81.7%, significantly higher than control group (70%), representing significant difference between the two groups (P0.05).As to the anorectal dynamics, significant difference was found before and after the treatment in both groups (P0.05).Conclusion Both oral mosapride and press-needle can improve the quality of life and anorectal dynamics for PD patients, representing no significant difference.However, compared with mosapride, the overall efficacy of press-needle is better in improving the symptoms of constipation in PD, featuring more convenience, higher safety, less pain and no side effect, and it is worthy of clinical application.
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[Objective]To observe the clinical efficacy of auricular press-needle combined western medicine in treating post-stroke insomnia and explore the mechanism. [Methods] Total 72 patients with post-stroke insomnia were randomized to the treatment group and control group, 36 patients in each group. The two groups were treated with post-stroke insomnia and other basic diseases. The treatment group received auricular press-needle and western medicine, while the control group were only given western medicine. The changes of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI) scores and National Institute of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS) scores of the two groups before and after treatment, 1 month after the treatment, were observed to compare the clinical curative effects of the two groups. [Results] The total effective rate of the treatment group was 94.44% better than 75.00% in the control group, the difference was statistically significant(P<0.01). The NIHSS scores of treatment group were less than the scores in the control group after treatment. Follow-up after 1 month, the PSQI scores of treatment group were not statistically significant( P>0.05), the long-term effect remained significant. But the control group was statistically significant(P<0.01), the long-term effect was not significant. [Conclusion] Auricular press-needle combined western medicine treating post-stroke insomnia had better clinical efficacy than only western medicine, promoting the recovery of nerve function. Meanwhile it had excellent long-term effect, thus deserving popularization.
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[Objective] The understanding and cooperation of dialysis medical staff are indispensable for the widespread introduction of acupuncture treatment in maintenance dialysis medical treatment. In this study, we tried to clarify the level of understanding of acupuncture of dialysis medical staff We also tried to examine change in their opinion of acupuncture after experiencing it. We discussed the possibility of using acupuncture treatment in maintenance dialysis medical treatment.<BR>[Method] At first, we distributed the questionnaire concerning the level of understanding of the acupuncture of dialysis medical staff (n=105) who visited the experience corner. Next, we investigated whether the staff who had experienced acupuncture treatment changed their opinion of it. We also investigated the method and effect of acupuncture.<BR>[Results & Conclusion] Few staff had experienced acupuncture previously. They had fears regarding acu- puncture regardless of their experiences, but these fears were alleviated after acupuncture experience. From these results, it is believed that dialysis staff have an insufficient understanding acupuncture. On the other hand, we considered the possibility that acupuncture could positively contribute to dialysis medical treatment because many staff approved the safety and hygiene levels of acupuncture. It will be necessary to educate staff concerning the effect of acupuncture on maintenance dialysis patients in order that they may be able to effec- tively administer acupuncture in the future.
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A double blind randomized control trial was performed to clarify the effects of acupuncture using a press needle on muscle pain, serum creatine kinase (CK) activity and muscle stiffness that resulted from running a marathon race. Sham press needles (placebo needles), which have the same package but without a needle tip, were developed by the acupuncture study authors. The subjects were 15 university students who participated in a marathon for the first time. Subjects were randomly assigned to two groups: the real acupuncture group and the placebo acupuncture group.<br>Both the real and the sham needles were applied to eight traditional Chinese acupoints in the lower limbs. They were applied before the start of the race and removed five days after the race.<br>Physical and biochemical examinations to determine the degree of muscle pain, CK activity, LDH isozyme, body flexion in standing position and muscle hardness were evaluated three times-before the start, after the finish, and five days after the finish.<br>Result: 1) The real acupuncture group showed less muscle pain than the placebo acupuncture group. 2) CK activity and LDH4-5 showed higher levels after the finish than before the start, but no significant difference was obtained among the groups. 3) No significant difference in time course change of the body flexion was obtained among the groups. 4) Hardness of vastus lateralis and vastus medialis showed higher levels after the finish than before the start, but no significant difference was obtained among the groups.