Observations on the Efficacy of Acupuncture plus Massotherapy in Treating Cervicogenic Headache / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus massotherapy in treating cervicogenic headache. Methods Ninety-seven patients with cervicogenic headache were randomly allocated to a treatment group of 62 cases and a control group of 35 cases. The treatment group received acupuncture plus massotherapy and the control group, massotherapy alone. The VAS score was recorded and plasma nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin (ET) levels were measured in the two groups before and after treatment. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups. Results The total efficacy rate was 95.2% in the treatment group and 82.9% in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in the VAS score, neck mobility, and plasma NO and ET levels in the two groups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in the VAS score, neck mobility, and plasma NO and ET levels in the treatment and control groups (P<0.05). Spearman’s correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between plasma NO and ET levels and the VAS score.Conclusions Acupuncture plus massotherapy is an effective way to treat cervicogenic headache. Its improving effect on headache is closely related to changes in plasma NO and ET levels.