Therapeutic Observation of Acupuncture plus Activator Method Chiropractic Technique for Lumbar Facet Joint Disorders / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus activator method chiropractic technique (AMCT) in treating lumbar facet joint disorders.Method A total of 40 patients with lumbar facet joint disorders were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 20 cases in each group. The treatment group was intervened by acupuncture plus AMCT, while the control group was treated with AMCT alone. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) were observed in the two groups before and after 3 treatment sessions, and the clinical efficacies were compared between the two groups.Result The VAS score and JOA score were significantly changed right after the 1st treatment and after 3 treatment sessions in the two groups (P<0.05). Right after the 1st treatment and after 3 treatment sessions, there were statistically significant differences in the VAS score and JOA score between the two groups (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 90.0% in the treatment group versus 60.0% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The relapse rate was 22.2% in the treatment group versus 50.0% in the control group 3 months after the treatment, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture plus AMCT is an effective approach in treating lumbar facet joint disorders.