Qi-guiding Needling Based on Meridian Differentiation for Lumbar Disc Herniation:A Multi-centered, Randomized Controlled Trial / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

ABSTRACT

Objective: To observe the efficacy of acupoint selection by meridian differentiation plus qi-guiding needling in treating lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Methods: By using the random number table, 549 patients with LDH were randomized into two groups. Two hundred and eighty participants in the observation group were intervened by selecting acupoints by meridian differentiation associated with qi-guiding needling method, and the other 269 participants in the control group were by selecting acupoints by meridian differentiation plus electroacupuncture. At the end of intervention, the changes of conduction velocities of the common peroneal nerve, superficial peroneal nerve, and tibial nerve were observed, and the therapeutic efficacies were compared. Results: The total effective rate was 87.5% in the observation group versus 86.6% in the control group, and the difference was statistically insignificant (P>0.05). The recovery rate was 51.8% in the observation group versus 37.2% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P Conclusion: Selecting acupoints by meridian differentiation associated with qi-guiding needling can produce a similar total effective rate to selecting acupoints by meridian differentiation plus electroacupuncture, while its recovery rate is comparatively higher.