Observation on efficacy of thumbtack needle combined with pediatric Tuina for constipation in children caused by liver depression and Qi stagnation / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

ABSTRACT

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of thumbtack needles combined with pediatric Tuina (Chinese therapeutic massage) for constipation in children caused by liver depression and Qi stagnation.Methods: A total of 60 children with constipation caused by liver depression and Qi stagnation were randomly divided into a combined group and a Tuina group, with 30 cases in each group. The cases in the Tuina group were treated with pediatric Tuina, while those in the combined group were treated with additional thumbtack needle therapy. We observed the clinical efficacy and the change in the number of spontaneous bowel movements per week before and after treatment. Results: After treatment, the cure rate and the total effective rate in the combined group were higher than in the Tuina group, showing statistical significance (P<0.05). Compared with the same group before treatment, the number of spontaneous bowel movements per week in both groups increased after treatment (P<0.05). With the progression of treatment, the number of spontaneous bowel movements per week increased in both groups, and the number in the combined group was more than that in the Tuina group, showing statistical significance (P<0.01). Conclusion: Thumbtack needles combined with pediatric Tuina is more effective than pediatric Tuina alone in the treatment of constipation in children caused by liver depression and Qi stagnation.