Effects of small needle-knife comprehensive therapy on pain and lumbar flexion range in the chronic nonspecific low back pain patient / 中国针灸

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe therapeutic effect of small needle-knife comprehensive therapy on pain and lumbar flexion range in the chronic nonspecific low back pain patient.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three hundred and five cases were randomly divided into a needle-knife group of 153 cases and a physiotherapy group of 152 cases. The needle-knife group were treated with small needle-knife releasing therapy, blocking and functional training. The physiotherapy group were treated with ultra-short wave, modulated medium frequency current, massage and functional training. Pain was assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) and the lumbar flexion range was determined before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment, the pain and the lumbar flexion range were significantly improved in the two groups; and after treatment, the VAS score and the lumbar flexion range were (1.60 +/- 0.38) points and (65.76 +/- 15.11) cm in the needle-knife group and (4.59 +/- 1.09) points and (53.74 +/- 15.13) cm in the physiotherapy group, respectively, the needle-knife group being significantly better than the physiotherapy group (P < 0.01). Follow-up survey of 6-36 months showed that the VAS score and the lumbar flexion range in the needle-knife group were superior to those in the physiotherapy group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Small needle-knife comprehensive therapy can significantly improve pain and lumbar flexion range in the chronic nonspecific low back pain patient, with a stable long-term therapeutic effect.</p>