Reducing Labor Anxiety with Auriculotherapy: A Randomized Clinical Trial Study / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To investigate the effect of auriculotherapy on reducing labor anxiety.@*METHODS@#In this randomized clinical trial, 166 nulliparous pregnant women admitted to the Labor Ward of Izadi Hospital in Qom, Iran were included and assigned to two groups by randomized block design. In the intervention group (83 cases), auriculotherapy in "Shenmen, Thalamic, Zero, Brain, and Brain stem" was performed in dilatations of 4, 6 and 8 cm, between the contractions for 30 s in both ears at interval 1 h. While the control group received routine care. The Spielberger Inventory were completed pre- and post-interventions.@*RESULTS@#The auriculotherapy was effective to reduce anxiety state in the intervention group compared to the control group (P=0.001). The score of state anxiety in the intervention group reduced for 7.0, 8.0 and 11.0 U in 4, 6, and 8 cm dilatations after the intervention. The score of trait anxiety in the intervention group reduced for 3.8, 4.0 and 8.3 U in 4, 6, and 8 cm dilatations after the intervention. There was no significant difference of delivery mode and newborns' weight and Apgar score between groups (P>0.05). No adverse postpartum outcome such as hemorrhage has been observed in both groups.@*CONCLUSION@#Since most women are anxious during labor, it seems that auriculotherapy can be an easy and safe method to reduce labor anxiety. (Trial registration No. irct20121230011944n4).

Comparison of the effect of dry cupping therapy and acupressure at Bl23 point on intensity of postpartum perineal pain based on the short form of McGill pain questionnaire

Background: Perineal pain is a major morbidity in the first few days after delivery. This study aimed to investigate the effect of dry cupping therapy and acupressure at BL23 point on the intensity of postpartum perineal pain based on the short-form of McGill pain questionnaire [SMPQ]

Methods: The present clinical trial was conducted on 150 subjects in 3 groups of 50 cases. After at least 4-8 hr of delivery, cupping therapy was performed for 15-20 min up to 3 times a week [once a day] and acupressure was performed for 15-20 min based on clockwise model. The short-form of McGill pain questionnaire was completed both before and after the intervention. The SPSS statistical software was used to analyze the data using repeated measures ANOVA. Besides, p<0.05 was considered statistically significant

Results: In the cupping therapy group, mean of the perineal pain intensity reduced from 37.5 +/- 6.8 before the intervention to 11.1 +/- 6.1, 6.9 +/- 4.7, and 3.8 +/- 3.6 immediately, 24 hr, and 2 weeks after the intervention, respectively. The results of study showed that the differences between the intervention and control groups were statistically significant [p<0.01]. Mean difference of the perineal pain intensity in the acupressure group reached from 35.6 +/- 8.1 before the intervention to 10.4 +/- 5.5 two weeks after the intervention, so the variation between intervention and control groups was statistically significant

Conclusion: The study findings showed that cupping therapy and acupressure reduced perineal pain. Therefore, they may be considered as effective treatments for reducing pain intensity of allowing delivery

[Comparison of the effect of dry cupping therapy and acupressure at bl23 point on the primiparous women's intensity of postpartum perineal pain: a randomized clinical trial]

Postpartum Perineal Pain [PPP] is one of the most common problems within the puerperium period particularly among the primiparous women. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dry cupping therapy and acupressure on acupoint BL23 on postpartum perineal pain severity among the primiparous subjects referring tothe selected educational center affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. This clinical trial was conducted on 150 cases in 2012. Cupping therapy was done every other day consecutively 4 times taking 15-20 minutes. Besides, acupressure was applied according to the circular model for 20 minutes. Both interventions were performed max. 8 hours after labor. The patients filled out the VAS questionnaire. Then, the data were analyzed using Chi-square tests.The significance level was considered p<0.05. In the cupping group, the mean difference of postpartum perineal pain intensity reached from 9.0 +/- 1.4 before the intervention to 4.8 +/- 1.6, 2.4 +/- 1.6, and 1.3 +/- 1.2 immediately, 24 hours, and 2 weeks after the intervention, respectively and the results of repeated measures ANOVA showed a significant difference between the three follow-up periods [p<0.05]. On the other hand, this measure reached from 8.5 +/- 1.8 before the intervention to 6.6 +/- 1.6, 4.6 +/- 1.8, and 3.1 +/- 1.4 immediately, 24 hours, and 2 weeks after the intervention, respectively in the acupressure group, however, the reduction was not significant [p> 0.05]. The results of this study showed that the mentioned techniques led to pain relief. Therefore, given the significant reduction in pain in cupping therapy group, this intervention can be applied as an effective treatment for reducing perineal pain

effect dry cupping therapy at acupoint BL23 on the intensity of postpartum low back pain in primiparous women based on two types of questionnaires, 2012; a randomized clinical trial

Continuous low back pain is obviously related to the symptoms of the pregnancy period. In spite of the spontaneous improvement of the pain in less than 6 months after the delivery, some women experience chronic problems. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of dry cupping therapy at the BL23 point on the intensity of low back pain in the primiparous using visual analogue scale and short-form McGill pain questionnaire. In the present clinical trial, 100 samples were randomly allocated randomly to either the cupping therapy or the control group. Cupping therapy was performed for 15-20 minutes every other day up to 4 consecutive times. Visual analogue scale and short-form McGill pain questionnaire were completed by the two groups before the intervention and immediately, 24 hours, and 2 weeks after that. Then, the data were entered into the SPSS statistical software [v. 16] and analyzed using chi-square test and repeated measures ANOVA. According to the visual analogue scale, the mean intensity of low back pain in the cupping therapy group decreased from 7.8+2.7 before the intervention to 3.7+1.8, 2.5+1.7, and 1.4+1.4 immediately, 24 hours, and 2 weeks after the intervention, respectively. Besides, these measures were respectively obtained as 31.8+10.8, 9.0+6.7, 7.5+6.6, and 3.6+4.1 in the short-form McGill pain questionnaire. According to repeated measures ANOVA, a significant difference was observed among the various stages of follow-up [P=0.01] The study results showed cupping therapy to be effective in sedation of pain. Thus, it can be used as an effective treatment for reducing the low back pain