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OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy of soft-tissue relaxing needling and electroacupuncture (EA) in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA), so as to explore a new and more effective therapy for KOA. METHODS: Forty patients with KOA who met our diagnostic criteria were randomly and equally divided into acupuncture group and soft-tissue relaxing needling (relaxing-needling) group. EA (20 Hz, a tolerable strength and duration of 20 min) was applied to the unilateral Neixiyan(EX-LE5) and Waixiyan(EX-LE5), and manual acupuncture stimulation was applied to Heding(EX-LE2), Xuehai (SP10), Xiyangguan (GB33), Liangqiu(ST34), Yanglingquan(GB34) and Yinlingquan(SP9) on the affected side by using uniform reinforcing-reducing technique. In the relaxing-needling group, after identifying the tender point and nodule-like or stiff-strip-muscle spot at the affected limb by palpation, we used filiform needles to insert into them, then, made a longitudinal separation or point-like pricking. The visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, knee flexion activity (range of motion, ROM), and the knee osteoarthritis severity (Lequesne index, composed of daily living, walking distance and pain) were measured before and after the treatment. The therapeutic effect was assessed by consulting the Guiding Principles for Researching New Drugs of Traditional Chinese Medicine (2002) and Criteria for Diagnosis and Assessment of Therapeutic Effect of Syndromes or Illnesses of Traditional Chinese Medicine (1994). RESULTS: After the treatment, the VAS score and Lequesne index were significantly decreased in both acupuncture and relaxing-needling groups (P0.05)．. CONCLUSION: Both relaxing-needling and EA therapies are comparable in the therapeutic effect for KOA, and the former is superior to the latter in reducing the joint pain and improving the knee joint locomotor function, thus being worthy of clinical application.
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OBJECTIVE: To observe whether acupuncture of the tender-points of the Spleen Meridian can achieve a better therapeutic effect for primary dysmenorrhea (PD) patients, so as to verify the importance of examining meridian-acupoint reactions in clinical practice. METHODS: A total of 72 PD patients were randomly assigned to tender-point group (observation group) and regular acupoint group (control group, n＝36 in each). For patients of the observation group, the tender-points around San-yinjiao (SP 6), Diji (SP 8) and Yinlingquan (SP 9) were needled, and for those of the control group, the regular SP 6, SP 8 and SP 9 were needled. After "Deqi", the filiform needles were manipulated with lifting-thrusting reducing technique for about 30 s, repeated once again every 10 min during 30 min's needle retention, and the treatment was conducted once daily for 3 days during every menstrual cycle, continuously for 3 months. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was rated for assessing the pain severity, and the COX menstrual symptom scale (CMSS) consists of 17 items and 5 grades/item (0－4 points) according to the severity of discomfort was rated before and after the treatment. RESULTS: After the treatment, the VAS and CMSS scores on the 1st days of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd menstrual cycles were significantly decreased in both control and observation groups in comparison with their own individual pre-acupuncture (P0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture stimulation of the tender points around the SP 6, SP 8 and SP 9 has a stronger analgesic effect relevant to needling the regular acupoints in PD patients.
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ObjectiveTo observe the efficacy of thread embedding at tender points on the Governor Vessel in treating intractable insomnia.MethodEighty eligible subjects were randomized into two groups. The thread embedding group was intervened by thread embedding at tender points on the Governor Vessel, while the acupuncture was by ordinary acupuncture.ResultThe recovery and markedly effective rate in the thread embedding group (72.5%) was markedly higher than that in the acupuncture group (45.0%). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores were significantly lower after intervention in both groups (P<0.05); the PSQI score in the thread embedding group was significantly lower than that in the acupuncture group after intervention (P<0.05). ConclusionThread embedding at tender points on the Governor Vessel can produce a more significant efficacy than ordinary acupuncture in treating intractable insomnia, and it can more effectively improve sleep quality.
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OBJETIVO: Estabelecer se há correlação entre o número de pontos dolorosos e a intensidade da percepção de aspectos centrais da síndrome (dor, fadiga, ansiedade, depressão) e do seu impacto na capacidade funcional. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Avaliaram-se quarenta e um prontuários de pacientes que preenchem os Critérios de Classificação para Fibromialgia do Colégio Americano de Reumatologia, considerando as seguintes variáveis: percepção da intensidade de dor, fadiga, qualidade de vida global, depressão, ansiedade e contagem de pontos dolorosos. A avaliação da capacidade funcional foi realizada através do Questionário de Avaliação de Saúde simplificado (Health Assessment Questionnaire-HAQ). RESULTADOS: Observou-se correlação entre a contagem de pontos dolorosos e a intensidade da dor e a capacidade funcional. Não houve correlação com as notas atribuídas à fadiga (p = 0,358), ansiedade (p = 0,58), depressão (p = 0,50) e qualidade de vida (p = 0,538). A correlação entre o número de pontos dolorosos e a intensidade da dor foi mais forte que com o HAQ. CONCLUSÃO: Há correlação entre contagem dos pontos dolorosos e intensidade da dor e capacidade funcional. A correlação entre os pontos dolorosos e a intensidade da dor é mais importante do que com a capacidade funcional medida pelo HAQ. Não há correlação com as demais variáveis estudadas.
OBJECTIVE: to study the correlation between the number of tender points and the intensity of the perception of key aspects of the fibromyalgia syndrome (pain, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and its impact in functional capacity). MATERIAL AND METHODS: forty-one records of patients who meet the Criteria for Classification of Fibromyalgia of the American College of Rheumatology were reviewed, focusing on the following variables: perception of the intensity of pain, fatigue, quality of sleep, depression, anxiety and the tender point count. The assessment of functional capacity was done by the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). RESULTS: There was a positive correlation between tender point count and pain intensity (p = 0.004), as well as HAQ scores (p = 0.0011). There was no correlation between tender point count and fatigue (p = 0.358), anxiety (p = 0.58), depression (p = 0.50) or physical capacity (p = 0.538). The correlation between the tender points count and pain intensity is stronger than with HAQ. CONCLUSION: there is a positive correlation between the tender point count, intensity of pain and functional capacity. The correlation between the tender point count and intensity of pain is more important than with functional capacity measured by the HAQ. There was no correlation with the other variables studied.