ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To compare the therapeutic effect of fire-needling plus stuck-needle-stretching and conventional acupuncture for post-stroke foot drop, so as to provide a reference foundation for optimizing clinical treatment regimen. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with post-stroke foot drop were equally randomized into a treatment group and a control group. In the treatment group, fire-needling plus stuck-needle-stretching was applied to acupoint pairs Jiexi (ST41)-Taichong (LR3), Xiajuxu (ST39)-ST41, Fenglong (ST40)-ST39, shangjuxu (ST37)-ST40, Zusanli (ST36)-ST37, Dubi (ST35)-ST36, Xuanzhong (GB39)-Qiuxu (GB40) on the affected side, and Chengshan (BL57) and Ashi points were swiftly pricked with red-hot filiform needle without needle retaining. In the conventional acupuncture group, the same acupoints were needled with filiform needles, and the treatment for both groups was given once a day, 6 times a week, for consecutive 4 weeks. The spasm severity of posterior triceps of the lower leg was evaluated using modified Ashworth scale, the tibial anterior muscle strength was measured using Lovett' and Martin's methods, the activities of daily living were assessed using modified Barthel's index, the walking ability was evaluated using Holden walking rating scale and the lower limb motor function assessed using Fugl-Meyer assessment scale, and the severity of foot drop was assessed in reference to Garceau criteria. RESULTS: After the treatment, the score of the modified Ashworth scale was significantly reduced (P0.05). CONCLUSION: Both fire-needling plus stuck-needle-stretching and conventional acupuncture are effective in the treatment of post-stroke foot drop, but the former is relatively better.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To observe the differences in the clinical effects on cervical spondylosis with neck pain between the grain-moxibustion combined with acupuncture and simple acupuncture.@*METHODS@#Eighty-eight cervical spondylosis patients with neck pain who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 44 cases in each one. The patients in the control group were treated with conventional acupuncture, and grain-moxibustion was applied on the basis treatment of the control group in the observation group. The treatment was given 3 times a week, once every other day, 10 times as one course, and followed up after 6 months. Northwick Park neck pain inventory (NPQ) and the McGill pain questionnaire (MPQ) of the two groups before and after treatment and 6 months follow-up were observed. The clinical efficacy was compared.@*RESULTS@#After one course of treatment in both groups, the effective rate was 84.1% (37/44) in the control group and 86.4% (38/44) in the observation group; after 6 months follow-up, the effective rate was 79.5% (35/44) in the control group, and 81.8% (36/44) in the observation group. There was no significant difference in overall efficacy between the two groups (both >0.05). Compared before treatment, the NPQ scores and MPQ scores were decreased at the end of one course of treatment and after 6 months follow-up in the two groups (all 0.05), but the NPQ scores and MPQ scores in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group after 6 months follow-up (both <0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The immediate efficacy of grain-moxibustion combined with acupuncture for cervical spondylosis with neck pain is similar to that of simple acupuncture, however, the long-term curative effect is better.
Subject(s)
Humans , Acupuncture Points , Acupuncture Therapy , Moxibustion , Neck Pain , Therapeutics , Spondylosis , Therapeutics , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To observe the difference for vascular dementia among flipping moxibustion of medicine at acupoints in governor vessel combined with acupuncture, simple medicine and simple acupuncture.@*METHODS@#A total of 120 patients with vascular dementia were randomly assigned into a combination group, a flipping moxibustion group and an acupuncture group, 40 cases in each one, with 2 patients dropping respectively. Flipping moxibustion was used at the acupoints of group A on Monday and at the acupoints of group B on Friday in the flipping moxibustion group. The acupoints of group A were Baihui (GV 20), Dazhui (GV 14), Shenzhu (GV 12), Zhiyang (GV 9), Jizhong (GV 6), Mingmen (GV 4), Yaoyangguan (GV 3), and the acupoints of group B were Fengfu (GV 16), Taodao (GV 13), Shendao (GV 11), Jinsuo (GV 8), Xuanshu (GV 5), Changqiang (GV 1). Acupuncture was used in the acupuncture group at the main acupoints of Baihui (GV 20), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), Neiguan (PC 6), Zusanli (ST 36), Taixi (KI 3) and Xuanzhong (GB 39), matched with the acupoints based on syndrome differentiation, 30 min a time, once a day, continuous 5 times a week. The above two methods were applied in the combination group. All the treaments were for 4 weeks. The indexes were observed before and after treatment, including syndrome differentiationof TCM scale for vascular dementia (SDSVD), simple mental state scale (MMSE), self-care ability of daily life scale (ADL). The clinical effects and safety were evaluated.@*RESULTS@#After treatment, the total effective rate in the combination group was 89.5% (34/38); the rate in the flipping moxibustion group was 65.8% (25/38); the rate in the acupuncture group was 63.2% (24/38). The difference among groups was statistically significant (0.05). The SDSVD scores after treatment were lower and the MMSE and ADL scores after treatment were higher than those before treatment in the three groups (all 0.05). The treatment in the three groups was safe, without stastical significance (>0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The effect of flipping moxibustion combined with acupuncture for vascular dementia is better than those of simple flipping moxibustion and simple acupuncture. The combination treatment achieves better effect on TCM syndrome, cognitive function and daily activity ability than the other two simple treatment.