Comparative Study on Wrist-ankle Acupuncture Versus Physical Therapy for Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Herniation / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To campare the clinical efficacy of wrist-ankle acupuncture versus physical therapy in treating lumbar intervertebral disc herniation (LIDH).Method Fifty LIDH patients were randomized into a treatment group of 20 cases and a control group of 30 cases. The treatment group was intervened by wrist-ankle acupuncture, while the control group was by traction and interference electrotherapy. The short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) and lumbar pain scoring system by Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) were compared before and after intervention.Result The SF-MPQ and JOA scores were significantly changed respectively after 5-day, 10-day, 15-day treatment as well as at the follow-up study in both groups (P0.05).Conclusion Wrist-ankle acupuncture and physical therapy both are effective in treating LIDH, as they both can release the pain.