The Therapeutic Effects of Acupuncture on Patients with Chronic Neck Myofascial Pain Syndrome: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

2010 ◽  
Vol 38 (05) ◽  
pp. 849-859 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mei-Yuan Sun ◽  
Ching-Liang Hsieh ◽  
Yung-Yen Cheng ◽  
Hung-Chang Hung ◽  
Tsai-Chung Li ◽  
...  

Chronic neck myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a common disorder seen in clinics. There is no gold standard method to treat myofascial pain. We investigated the effects of acupuncture on patients with chronic neck MPS by a single-blind randomized controlled trial. A total of 35 patients were randomly allocated to an acupuncture group (AG) or a sham acupuncture group (SG). Each subject received acupuncture treatment twice per week for three consecutive weeks. The primary outcome measure was quality of life as assessed with Short Form-36, and secondary outcome measures were neck range of motion (ROM), motion-related pain, and Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), as determined by a blinded investigator. The clinical assessments were made before treatment (BT) and after six acupuncture treatments (AT), as well as four weeks (F1) and 12 weeks (F2) after the end of the treatment. A total of 34 patients completed the trial. The results indicated that there is no significant difference in the ROM, motion-related pain, and SF-MPQ scores between AG and SG at AT, F1 and F2 (all p > 0.05). However, AG has greater improvement in physical functioning and role emotional of Short Form-36 quality of life at F2. The results indicate that acupuncture may be used to improve the quality of life in patients with chronic neck MPS.

Trials ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Glauber Sá Brandão ◽  
Luís Vicente Franco Oliveira ◽  
Glaudson Sá Brandão ◽  
Anderson Soares Silva ◽  
Antônia Adonis Callou Sampaio ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (9) ◽  
pp. 954-964 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivian Fu ◽  
Mark Weatherall ◽  
Kathryn McPherson ◽  
William Taylor ◽  
Anna McRae ◽  
...  

Background and purpose “Take Charge” is a novel, community-based self-directed rehabilitation intervention which helps a person with stroke take charge of their own recovery. In a previous randomized controlled trial, a single Take Charge session improved independence and health-related quality of life 12 months following stroke in Māori and Pacific New Zealanders. We tested the same intervention in three doses (zero, one, or two sessions) in a larger study and in a broader non-Māori and non-Pacific population with stroke. We aimed to confirm whether the Take Charge intervention improved quality of life at 12 months after stroke in a different population and whether two sessions were more effective than one. Methods We randomized 400 people within 16 weeks of acute stroke who had been discharged to institution-free community living at seven centers in New Zealand to a single Take Charge session (TC1, n = 132), two Take Charge sessions six weeks apart (TC2, n = 138), or a control intervention (n = 130). Take Charge is a “talking therapy” that encourages a sense of purpose, autonomy, mastery, and connectedness with others. The primary outcome was the Physical Component Summary score of the Short Form 36 at 12 months following stroke comparing any Take Charge intervention to control. Results Of the 400 people randomized (mean age 72.2 years, 58.5% male), 10 died and two withdrew from the study. The remaining 388 (97%) people were followed up at 12 months after stroke. Twelve months following stroke, participants in either of the TC groups (i.e. TC1 + TC2) scored 2.9 (95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.95 to 4.9, p = 0.004) points higher (better) than control on the Short Form 36 Physical Component Summary. This difference remained significant when adjusted for pre-specified baseline variables. There was a dose effect with Short Form 36 Physical Component Summary scores increasing by 1.9 points (95% CI 0.8 to 3.1, p < 0.001) for each extra Take Charge session received. Exposure to the Take Charge intervention was associated with reduced odds of being dependent (modified Rankin Scale 3 to 5) at 12 months (TC1 + TC2 12% versus control 19.5%, odds ratio 0.55, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.99, p = 0.045). Conclusions Confirming the previous randomized controlled trial outcome, Take Charge—a low-cost, person-centered, self-directed rehabilitation intervention after stroke—improved health-related quality of life and independence. Clinical trial registration-URL http://www.anzctr.org.au . Unique identifier: ACTRN12615001163594


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