Comparative Study on the Therapeutic Efficacy between Medicinal Cupping and Bloodletting for Chronic Low Back Pain / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To compare the therapeutic efficacy between medicinal cupping and collateral-pricking bloodletting therapy in treating lumbar intervertebral disc herniation (LIDH) and non-specific low back pain.Method Sixty LIDH patients were randomized into treatment group 1 and control group 1, 30 cases in each group. Sixty non-specific low back pain patients were randomized into treatment group 2 and control group 2, 30 cases in each group. Treatment group 1 and 2 were intervened by medicinal cupping, while control group 1 and 2 were by collateral-pricking bloodletting. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were observed before and after intervention.Result The VAS and ODI scores were significantly changed after intervention in treatment group 1, treatment group 2, and control group 2 (P0.05). After treatment, there was a significant difference in comparing the ODI score between control group 1 and control group 2 (P<0.05).Conclusion Medicinal cupping and collateral-pricking bloodletting are both effective in treating chronic low back pain, and medicinal cupping has its advantage in improving ODI compared to the bloodletting therapy.