Effect of Acupuncture on Constipation in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder / 中国康复理论与实践

ABSTRACT

Objective:To observe the effect of acupuncture on constipation in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods:From January, 2019 to November, 2020, 50 ASD children with constipation from Rehabilitation Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine were admitted and randomly divided into acupuncture-rehabilitation group (n = 25) and medicine-rehabilitation group (n = 25). For constipation, the acupuncture-rehabilitation group used scalp acupuncture, body acupuncture combined with rehabilitation; the medicine-rehabilitation group took probiotics orally combined with rehabilitation. Both groups received conventional rehabilitation for constipation and the core symptoms. Constipation was treated for eight weeks, and ASD symptoms was treated for twelve weeks. After eight weeks and twelve weeks, the efficacy of constipation and the scores of main symptoms of constipation were compared, and they were also evaluated with Autism Child Behavior Scale (ABC) and Autism Treatment Evaluation Scale (ATEC). Results:Before treatment, there was no significant difference in the main symptoms of constipation, nor the scores of ABC and ATEC between two groups (P > 0.05). Eight weeks after treatment, the main symptoms of constipation significantly improved (t > 5.473, P < 0.001); twelve weeks after treatment, the efficacy of constipation and the main symptoms of constipation were better in the acupuncture-rehabilitation group than in the medicine-rehabilitation group (Z = 2.848, t = -2.139, P < 0.05). Eight weeks after treatment, the scores of ABC and ATEC significantly decreased (t > 7.139, P < 0.001), and there was no significant difference between two groups (P > 0.05); the score of behavior of ATEC significantly decreased in the acupuncture-rehabilitation group (t = 3.849, P < 0.01), and was lower than that of the medicine-rehabilitation group (t = -2.643, P < 0.05), and no significant difference in other items was found between two groups (P > 0.05); twelve weeks after treatment, the scores of ABC and ATEC were lower in the acupuncture-rehabilitation group than in the medicine-rehabilitation group (|t| > 2.156, P < 0.05). Conclusion:Acupuncture-rehabilitation can improve the longer-lasting effect of constipation, and also improve the core symptoms of ASD, which is superior to medicine-rehabilitation.