ClinicalObservation of Superficial Needling for Intractable Constipation in the Elderly / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of superficial needling in treating senile intractable constipation.Method The recruited patients were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 40 in each group. The treatment group was intervenedby superficial needling, while the control group was by oral administration of Phenolphthalein tablets. The two groups both received the treatments for 4 weeks.ResultThe therapeutic efficacy increased with the treatment; patients showed improvements indefecation frequency, stool constitution, and effort in defecation (P<0.05); there was a significant difference between the treatment group and the control group (P<0.05); the residual marker counts of 48 h and 72 h after treatment were significantly lowered in both groups compared to that before treatment (P<0.05).ConclusionSuperficial needling can obviously improve the symptoms of senile intractable constipation, promoting the gastrointestinal transit motility.