Comparative Efficacy of Micro-Needle-Knife Therapy and Acupuncture in Acute Ankle Sprains: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND Micro-needle knife (MNK) therapy releases the superficial fascia to alleviate pain and improve joint function in patients with acute ankle sprains (AAS). We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of MNK therapy vs that of acupuncture. MATERIAL AND METHODS This blinded assessor, randomized controlled trial allocated 80 patients with AAS to 2 parallel groups in a 1: 1 ratio. The experimental group received MNK therapy; the control group underwent conventional acupuncture treatment at specified acupoints. Clinical efficacy differences between the 2 groups before (time-point 1 [TP1]) and after treatment (TP2) were evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and Kofoed ankle score. Safety records and evaluations of adverse events were documented. One-month follow-up after treatment (TP3) was conducted to assess the intervention scheme's reliability. RESULTS VAS and Kofoed ankle scores significantly improved in both groups. No patients dropped due to adverse events. At TP1, there were no significant differences between the 2 groups in terms of VAS and Kofoed scores (P>0.05). However, at TP2, efficacy of MNK therapy in releasing the superficial fascia was significantly superior to that of acupuncture treatment (P<0.001). At TP3, no significant differences in scores existed between the groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that 6 sessions of MNK therapy to release the superficial fascia safely and effectively alleviated pain and enhanced ankle joint function in patients with AAS, surpassing the efficacy of conventional acupuncture treatment. Future studies should increase the sample size and introduce additional control groups to further validate the superior clinical efficacy of this intervention.

[Micro-needle knife in treatment of cervical vertigo and its effect on vertebral artery hemodynamics].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of micro-needle knife therapy and betahistine mesilate tablets in the treatment of cervical vertigo (CV) and the influence on the mean blood flow velocity (Vm) of vertebral artery. METHODS: A total of 200 patients with CV were randomly divided into a micro-needle knife group (100 cases, 5 cases dropped off) and a medication group (100 cases, 3 cases dropped off). In the micro-needle knife group, micro-needle knife was performed on the suboccipital triangle of the atlantoaxial segment of the posterior neck, once every other day, for a total of 7-time treatment. The medication group received oral betahistine mesilate tablets, 6 mg each time, three times a day, for 14 consecutive days. The dizziness handicap inventory (DHI) scores of the two groups were observed before treatment, after treatment and during follow-up 3 months after treatment; the Vm of vertebral artery was compared between the two groups before and after treatment, and the clinical effect was evaluated during follow-up. RESULTS: After treatment and during follow-up, the DHI scores of the two groups were lower than those before treatment (P<0.001), and those in the micro-needle knife group were lower than the medication group (P<0.001). After treatment, the Vm of bilateral vertebral arteries in both groups was higher than that before treatment (P<0.05), and that in the micro-needle knife group was higher than the medication group (P<0.05). The total effective rate of the micro-needle knife group was 96.8% (92/95), which was higher than 67.0% (65/97) of the medication group (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Micro-needle knife therapy can improve vertigo symptoms and balance dysfunction, increase the mean blood flow velocity of vertebral artery in CV patients, and its clinical efficacy is better than oral betahistine mesilate tablets.

[A case control study:the treatment of cervical vertigo with micro needle knife].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of micro needle knife therapy on cervical vertigo. METHODS: A total of 300 patients with cervical vertigo treated from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2019 were randomly divided into micro needle knife group (96 cases, 4 cases falling off), traditional acupuncture group (96 cases, 4 cases falling off) and oral drug group(95 cases, 5 cases falling off). The micro needle knife group was treated with micro needle knife in the local upper cervical segment once every other day for 7 times; the traditional acupuncture group was treated with traditional acupuncture once a day for 2 weeks;the oral drug group was given Merislon (betahistine mesilate tablets) orally, 6 mg each time, 3 times a day for 2 weeks. The patients were followed up before treatment, at the end of treatment and 3 months after treatment. The dizziness handicap inventory(DHI) was observed and the curative effect was evaluated according to the DHI score. RESULTS: At the end of the course of treatment and 3 months after the treatment, DHI scores of the three groups were significantly lower than those before treatment(P<0.01), and the DHI scores of micro needle knife group were lower than those of traditional acupuncture group and oral drug group at the same time point after treatment (P<0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in DHI scores between traditional acupuncture group and oral drug group at the same time after treatment(P< 0.05). The curative effect was evaluated according to DHI score:in micro needle knife group, 50 cases were cured, 28 cases were markedly effective, 14 cases were improved, the total effective rate was 95.83%; in traditional acupuncture group, 28 cases were cured, 26 cases were markedly effective, and 24 cases were improved, with the total effective rate of 81.25%;in oral drug group, 18 cases were cured, 20 cases were markedly effective, and 28 cases were improved, with the total effective rate of 69.47%. The total effective rate of micro needle knife group was significantly higher than that of other two groups (χ2=45.956, P=0.000). Among the cured patients in the three groups, the time required in the micro needle knife group was significantly less than that in the traditional acupuncture group and oral drug group(F=18.796, P=0.000). CONCLUSION: Micro needle knife loosening atlantoaxial soft tissue has obvious curative effect on cervical vertigo which clinical cure rate, effective rate and treatment time required for cured patients are better than traditional acupuncture and oral drug.

[Case-control study on the treatment of heel spur syndrome with modified stretching manipulation combined with needle Dao loosing].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical effects of modified plantar fascia stretching manipulation combined with needle Dao loosing in the treatment of heel spur syndrome. METHODS: From September 2010 to September 2015, 115 patients diagnosed as heel spur syndrome were divided into two groups: treatment group and control group. There were 58 patients in the treatment group, including 21 males and 37 females, ranging in age from 26 to 73 years old, with the course of disease from 6 to 51 months. The patients in the treatment group were treated with modified plantar fascia stretching manipulation combined with needle Dao loosing. There were 57 patients in the control group, including 22 males and 35 females, ranging in age from 31 to 75 years old, with the course of disease from 7 to 58 months. The patients in the control group were treated with traditonal stretching manipulation combined with needle Dao loosing. The NRS scores of heel pain were evaluated at the 1st week, 1 and 3 months after treatment; and the clinical effects of the two groups were evaluated with the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure(FAAM) scale evaluation system. RESULTS: The numerical rating scale(NRS) scores were 3.89±0.96 and 2.46±0.95 in the treatment group 1 month and 3 months after treatment, which were superior to 4.52±1.21 and 4.73±1.11 in the control group; and the FAAM rates in the treatment group were (3.89±0.96)% and(2.46±0.95)% separately 1 month and 3 months after treatment, which were better than (4.52±1.21)% and (4.73±1.11)% in the control group. The total curative effects of the treatment group were better than that of the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The modified plantar fascia stretching manipulation combined with needle Dao loosing can locate the traction point, which has a significant effect on the patients with heel spur syndrome. Compared with traditonal stretching manipulation combined with needle Dao loosing, this modified mainpulation combined with needle knife loosing has better medium to-long term effects.

[Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder treated with scalp acupuncture and EEG biofeedback therapy in children: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the difference in clinical efficacy on children attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) between the combined therapy of scalp acupuncture and EGG biofeedback and the simple EEG biofeedback therapy so as to search the better therapeutic method for ADHD. METHODS: One hundred patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 50 cases in each one. In the control group, the simple EEG biofeedback therapy was adopted. In the observation group, on the basis of biofeedback therapy, scalp acupuncture was added and applied to Dingzhongxian (MS 5), Dingpangyixian (MS 8), Baihui (GV 20), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), etc. The ten treatments made one session. After four sessions of treatment, FIQ value in Wechsler intelligence scale, CIH score in Conners children behavior questionnaire, the ratio of 0 wave and p wave in EEG, FRCQ and FAQ in the integrated visual and auditory continuous performance test (IVA-CPT) and clinical comprehensive efficacy were observed before and after treatment in the two groups separately. RESULTS: Three cases were dropped out in the observation group and 2 cases were out in the control group. In the two groups, FIQ, FRCQ and FAQ were all increased after treatment (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); the increases in the observation group were much more significant than those in the control group after treatment (all P < 0.05). In the two groups, CIH score and the ratio of 0 wave and p wave were all reduced after treatment (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); the reduction in the observation group were much more apparent as compared with those in the control group (both P< 0.05). The total effective rate was 91.5% (43/47) in the observation group and better than 83. 3% (40/48, P < 0.01) in the control group. CONCLUSION: The combined therapy of scalp acupuncture and EEG biofeedback achieves the superior efficacy on children ADHD as compared with the simple biofeedback therapy. This combined therapy rapidly relieves the essential symptoms of ADHD and improves EEG waveform in children patients. Importantly, this therapy obtains and consolidates the significant efficacy.