[Lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion treated with Santong tuina therapy: a multi-central randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the difference in the efficacy on lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion (LIDP) between Santong tuina therapy and conventional tuina therapy. METHODS: Multi-central, random and controlled clinical trial was carried out. One hundred and twenty cases of LIDP were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 60 cases in each one. In observation group, Santong tuina therapy was used. In control group, conventional tuina therapy was adopted. The clinical efficacy was observed in two groups, and lumbar vertebral function was scaled before and after treatment in two groups. RESULTS: The total effective rate was 95.0% (57/60) in observation group and was 96.7% (58/60) in control group, without significant statistical difference in comparison (P > 0.05). The cured and markedly effective rate was 81.7% (49/60) in observation group and was 63.3% (38/60) in control group, indicating significant statistical difference in comparison (P < 0.05). The self-comparison of lumbar vertebral function before and after treatment presented statistical significance in either observation group (12.25 +/- 3.15, 25.56 +/- 5.27) or control group (13.32 +/- 3.26, 20.46 +/- 4.25, both P < 0.05); additionally, there was significant difference in the comparison between groups after treatment (P < 0.05). The therapy adopted in observation group improved lumbar vertebral function much significantly. CONCLUSION: In the treatment of LIDP, Santong tuina therapy achieves much better clinical efficacy as compared with conventional tuina therapy.

[Systematic evaluation on treatment of sub-health with acupuncture-moxibustion and Tuina in clinical researches].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of acupuncture-moxibustion and Tuina massage for treatment of sub-health. METHODS: A systematic evaluation on randomized controlled trial, quasi-randomized control trial or controlled clinical trial of treatment of sub-health with acupuncture-moxibustion and Tuina was carried out according to the assessment methods recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration. RESULTS: There are totally 9 articles and 937 subjects met the inclusion criteria and are included into the assessment system. The average quality of methodologies adopted is not so high, and with many limitations. Meta-analysis or descriptive analysis on the data collected: (1) General effect: Tuina massage therapy is better than auricular-point-pressing therapy; acupuncture is better than self health care; acupoint injection is better than intramuscular injection, Tuina is similar to Chinese herb. (2) Quality of life and pain score: Tuina is better than blank control. (3) Individual effect: the effect of Tuina massage on lassitude is better than acupuncture. (4) Effect on sleep quality index: Tuina massage is better than acupuncture. CONCLUSION: There are not enough evidences to approve that the effect of acupuncture-moxibustion and Tuina massage on sub-health is better than that of other therapies. Therefore, more high quality randomized controlled trials with strict and scientific designation are necessary for obtaining more and better evidences.

[Randomized controlled trial on effect of Tuina for treatment of sub-health people of somatic pain].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical effect and safety of Tuina for treatment of somatic pain of sub-health. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind and blank parallel controlled trial was done. The experiment group was treated with Tuina and the control group lied down for rest, 45 minutes each time, twice each week for three weeks. RESULTS: Tuina treatment could improve more on sensory, affective, evaluation, pain rating index and extant pain intensity of the pain index, and score of subjective sensation of life quality and health status together with physiology and psychology field of life quality. CONCLUSION: Massage is an effective therapy for treatment of somatic pain of sub-health without adverse reactions and it should be generalized to application.

[Effects of different acupuncture treatment on mean blood flow velocity of middle cerebral artery on the affected side and rehabilitation of hemiparalysis caused by cerebral infarction].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of two different acupuncture treatment on cerebral blood flow velocity and early rehabilitation of hemiparalysis caused by cerebral infarction. METHODS: Eighty patients were randomly divided into an alternate acupuncture group (n = 40) and a routine acupuncture group (n = 40). Both of the groups were treated with routine neurology medicine and application of good limb position combined with acupuncture. The patients in the alternate acupuncture group were treated by opposing needling and non-opposing needling, i. e. acupuncture at acupoints on both the healthy and affected sides alternately, twice each day, respectively. The routine acupuncture group was treated by acupuncture at the affected side, once daily. Scores of Scandinavian Stroke Scale (SSS) were evaluated before and after treatment in the two groups, and the mean blood flow velocity of middle cerebral artery (MCA) on the affected side was monitored during two different acupuncture treatment by using Transcranial Doppler (TCD). RESULTS: The cured and markedly effective rate was 65.0% in the alternate acupuncture group and 37.5% in the routine acupuncture group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). After treatment, the SSS score in the alternate acupuncture group was significantly lower than that in the routine acupuncture group (P < 0.01). The mean blood flow velocity of MCA during two different acupuncture treatment was both decreased significantly (both P < 0.05) and the mean blood flow velocity of MCA before the last treatment was decreased significantly in the alternate acupuncture group than those in the routine acupuncture group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The therapeutic effect of the alternate acupuncture program for hemiparalysis caused by cerebral infarction is superior to that of the routine acupuncture program. It is suggested that the mechanism of acupuncture in treating hemiparalysis caused by cerebral infarction is to dilate cerebral blood vessels and improve cerebral perfusion.