[Effect of electroacupuncture on the multifidus muscle in patients with lumbar disc herniation].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on lumbar dysfunction and multifidus muscle characteristics in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH). METHODS: Sixty patients with LDH were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. The patients in the control group were treated with symptomatic treatment. On the basis of the treatment of the control group, the patients in the observation group were treated with acupuncture at L3-S1 Jiaji (Ex-B 2) and Dachangshu (BL 25), and the ipsilateral L3 and L5 Jiaji point were connected with EA (continuous wave, frequency of 20 Hz, and the intensity was appropriate to the patient's tolerance). The needles were retained for 20 min, once every other day, and 10 times were taken as a course of treatment. A total of 2 courses of treatment was given. The modified Oswestry disability index (ODI) as well as the physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) of the 36-item short form health survey (SF-36) were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. Lumbar MRI was performed before and after treatment to measure the cross-sectional area (CSA), fatty infiltration (FI) and T2 values of multifidus muscle at the lower edge of L4 and L5 vertebral bodies. RESULTS: After treatment, the ODI, PCS and MCS socres in the two groups were improved compared with those before treatment (P<0.05), and the ODI and PCS socres in the observation group were better than those in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the FI and value of T2 in the observation group were lower than those before treatment (P<0.05), and lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: EA could improve lumbar dysfunction, relieve edema and fatty infiltration of multifidus muscle in patients with LDH.

[Effect of electroacupuncture on lumbar disc herniation with different multifidus fatty infiltration rates].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture on lumbar disc herniation (LDH) with different multifidus fatty infiltration rates. METHODS: A total of 108 eligible LDH patients received MRI test before treatment and the multifidus fatty infiltration rate (FI) was measured. According to theresults, they were divided to group A (FI<10%), group B (10%≤FI≤20%) and group C (FI>20%), 36 cases in each one. EA was provided in all of the groups. The selected acupoints were Jiaji (EX-B 2) from L3 to S1 and Dachangshu (BL 25), etc. on the affected side. EA was applied to Jiaji (EX-B 2) at L3 and L5 on the affected side (continuous wave, 20 Hz in frequency), retained for 20 min. The treatment was given once every two days, for 10 times totally. Before and after treatment, the score of Oswestry disability index (ODI) and the scores of physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) of medical outcomes survey short form-36 (SF-36) scale were observed in each group separately. RESULTS: Compared with before treatment, ODI score was reduced (P<0.05) and the scores of PCS and MCS were increased (P<0.05) after treatment in the three groups. After treatment, ODI score in the group A was lower than that in either the group B or the group C (P<0.05) and the score in the group B was lower than that in the group C (P<0.05). PCS score in the group A was higher than that in either the group B or the group C (P<0.05) and the score in the group B was higher than the group C (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture relieves pain and improves physical and psychological health of LDH patients. Multifidus fatty infiltration rate is probably one of the factors to influence the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture.

[A study of median frequencies of skeletal muscle undergoing Tuina intervention in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To study the changes in median frequency (MF) from a surface electromyogram of skeletal muscles and functional assessment of chronic illness therapy (FACIT) figure scale scores for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) before and after Tuina treatment. METHODS: A controlled clinical trial was adopted. Thirty-two patients suffering from CFS were enrolled according to the inclusion criteria from outpatient department of Shanghai Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine in China; thirty normal people whose gender, age, height and body mass were concordant with the CFS patients were selected as the normal group. Surface electromyography was used to detect the median frequency (MF) of biceps, quadriceps, and waist and back muscle before and after a 20-day course of treatment. CFS patients also were asked to fill out the figure scale of FACIT to evaluate the degree of fatigue. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in surface electromyography MF of myoelectric signal of biceps and quadriceps between CFS and normal person; however, the waist and back muscle MF of the normal person was significantly lower than that of the CFS patients. Before and after treatment, there were no obvious changes in the MF of myoelectric signals of all muscles. Tuina significantly decreased the scale score of FACIT. CONCLUSION: Tuina can improve the symptom of patients with CFS.

[Observation on therapeutic effect of dog-day acupuncture and moxibustion combined with pelvic floor muscle exercises for treatment of female stress urinary incontinence].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of dog-day acupuncture and tortoise-shell moxibustion combined with pelvic floor muscle exercises for treatment of female stress urinary incontinence. METHODS: Seventy one cases were randomly divided into two groups. Thirty six cases in the observation group were treated with acupuncture on Zhongji (CV 3), Zigong (EX-CA 1), Chize (LU 5) etc. and tortoise-shell moxibustion on Shenque (CV 8) combined with pelvic floor muscle exercises; while thirty five cases in the control group were treated with only pelvic floor muscle exercises. The scores of the International Consultation Committee on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form (ICI-Q-SF) and the Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form-36 (SF-36) were evaluated before and after treatment, and the scores of SF-36 were also compared with 35 cases in normal group. RESULTS: The total effective rate of 91.7% in the observation group was higher than that of 77.1% in the control group (P < 0.05). The dimensions of SF-36 of stress urinary incontinence patients were remarkably lower than those of normal group (all P < 0.05). The scores of ICI-Q-SF were decreased while the scores of SF-36 were increased obviously after treatment in both the observation group and the control group, there were pronounced improvements on physiological function, pain, physical activity, social function and affection function in the observation group (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The quality of life for female stress urinary incontinence patients may be poor, however the dog-day acupuncture and tortoise-shell moxibustion combined with pelvic floor muscle exercises can improve the symptoms of urinary incontinence and increase the quality of life of patients.

[Clinical observation on electroacupuncture combined with catgut implantation at acupoints for treatment of simple obesity of heart and spleen deficiency type].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the interventional effect of electroacupuncture combined with catgut implantation at acupoints for treatment of simple obesity of heart and spleen deficiency type. METHODS: Sixty five cases were randomly divided into an observation group (33 cases) and a control group (32 cases). The observation group was treated with electroacupuncture combined with catgut implantation at acupoint therapy, the electroacupuncture was applied at Zhongwan (CV 12), Xiawan (CV 10), Guanyuan (CV 4), Tianshu (ST 25), ect. and catgut implantation was given at Zhongwan (CV 12), Tianshu (ST 25), Qihai (CV 6), etc. The control group was treated with electroacupuncture only. The body weight, body mass index (BMI), waistline, waist hip ratio (WHR), Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA) and Hamilton depression scale (HAMD, 17 items) were evaluated before and after treatment, and these were also compared with those of 35 nomal cases. RESULTS: The total effective rate of 93.9% in the observation group was higher than that of 84.4% in the control group (P < 0.05); the body weight, BMI, waistline, WHR, PSQI, HAMD and HAMA of simple obesity cases were obviously higher than those of normal cases (all P < 0.05). The scores of above indexes were all obviously decreased in both groups after treatment (all P < 0.05), and the improvement was more significant in observation group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The sleep quality reduction and mental and psychology disorder exist in simple obesity patients, and electroacupuncture combined with catgut implantation at acupoints can reduce weight effectively, and at the same time improve the sleep quality and regulate psychological state.