Effect of Specific Acupuncture Therapy Combined with Rehabilitation Training on Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Acupuncture therapies were used to treat spinal cord injury (SCI) and its complications. To assess the effect of a specific acupuncture therapy combined with rehabilitation training for inpatients with incomplete SCI, we conducted an assessor-blinded, randomized controlled clinical trial in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine Center in West China Hospital, Sichuan University. Seventy-two participants diagnosed with incomplete SCI were randomly assigned into 3 groups of 24 patients each, with data collection completed in December, 2019. Participants were randomly assigned (1 : 1 : 1) to 3 groups to receive treatment for 4 weeks, 5 times/week of acupuncture for Continuous Acupuncture Treatment (CAT) group, 3 times/week for Intermittent Acupuncture Treatment (IAT) group, and no acupuncture for Control group; all 3 groups received routine rehabilitation training. The primary outcome was the change of American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) motor score from baseline to week 4. Secondary outcomes included sensory score, Modified Barthel Index (MBI). At week 4, CAT group had a higher motor score and MBI score increase than the control group (mean difference 10.52, 17.36; p < 0.001, p < 0.01, respectively). CAT group had more increase in motor score and MBI than IAT group (mean difference 5.55, 14.77; p < 0.05, p < 0.05, respectively). But the difference among groups in the increase of sensory score was not statistically significant. Acupuncture resulted in a higher motor score and MBI after 4 weeks. And the dosage of 5/week led to more improvement in motor score and MBI than that of 3/week. The results suggested that a dosage of 5/week of acupuncture is safe and more effective for SCI than 3/week. But further research is needed to determine the best intervention dosage, long-term efficacy, and underlying mechanism. This trial is registered with ChiCTR1900021530.

Effectiveness and safety of manual acupuncture therapy in patients with post-stroke depression: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

IntroductionAcupuncture is widely used on the rehabilitation of stroke survivors, including hemiplegia, constipation, emotional disorders and so on. Although the effectiveness of manual acupuncture therapy on post-stroke depression (PSD) has been confirmed by multiple randomised controlled trials, there were few meta-analyses focused on the connection between different techniques, durations or other detailed operations of manual acupuncture and their effectiveness of improving the depression severity and quality of life for patients with PSD.Methods and analysisA systematic search will be performed on English databases (PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Medline and Embase), Chinese databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Data, VIP and Chinese biomedical databases) and Japanese databases (Japan Science and Technology Agency and CiNii). The retrieval time limit will be from the establishment of the database to November 2020. Two researchers will independently screen the literature works, extract data and evaluate the quality of the included studies. Meta-analysis will be conducted by using STATA V.14.0 and Review Manager V.5.3.Ethics and disseminationThe results of this meta-analysis will be disseminated through publication in peer-reviewed journals or conference presentations. The data used in this meta-analysis will not contain individual patient data; therefore, ethical approval is not required.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020222825.

Acupuncture and cupping alternative therapy in patients with acute low back pain

Introduction: acupuncture and cupping constitute an alternative therapy to alleviate different conditions, especially acute low back pain, which improves the level of satisfaction and impacts on the quality of life of patients who suffer from it. Objective: to evaluate the efficacy of treatment with acupuncture and cupping in patients with acute low back pain. Methods: a randomized phase III therapeutic clinical trial was carried out in patients who attended the Natural and Traditional Medicine service of the rehabilitation room of the Juan Manuel Páez Inchauthi Polyclinic, in the municipality of Moa, Holguín province, Cuba, in the period of July to December of the year 2017. The study universe consisted of 80 patients who attended the consultation; The sample was randomly selected and consisted of 60 patients in two study groups, group I, who received acupuncture treatment, and group II, with cupping, made up of 30 patients each. Both were diagnosed with post Bi syndrome. Results: men predominated in the study, with 63.3%, and study group II, with 66.7%. The age group from 40 to 49 years was the most affected. In both, the exogenous wind factor predominated. It was observed that the Bi wind syndrome is the most benefited with acupuncture therapy, as when the suction cup was applied. Conclusion: in both groups there was 100% effectiveness of acupuncture therapy and the cupping, in the improvement or cure of acute low back pain.

Research Progress on Acupuncture Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis of the knee is a common clinical degenerative disease, which occurs in middle-aged and elderly people. Acupuncture therapy has a significant effect in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, and is gradually accepted by more and more patients. Observing the treatment of knee osteoarthritis by different acupuncture and moxibustion therapies, we can find that acupuncture treatment of knee osteoarthritis has the advantages of relieving knee joint pain, improving knee joint function, absorbing knee joint inflammation, and promoting the recovery of damaged soft tissue. The treatment of osteoarthritis provides a more effective treatment plan.

Effects of Laser Acupuncture Therapy for Patients With Inadequate Recovery From Bell’s Palsy: Preliminary Results From Randomized, Double-Blind, Sham-Controlled Study

Introduction: Inadequate recovery from Bell’s palsy exists in a third of patients and results in physical and social impairments. The controversial nature of existing medical treatment options means that novel, alternative approaches are needed. In basic and clinical studies, low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has proven successful in regenerating peripheral nerves. Laser acupuncture therapy (LAT) is a rapidly growing treatment modality; however, its effectiveness for treating chronic Bell’s palsy is unknown. The feasibility of this innovative approach is the focus of this pilot study. Methods: A two-armed, parallel, randomized, investigator-subject-assessor-blinded, sham-controlled pilot study was conducted, and 17 eligible subjects were randomly allocated to either LAT (n=8) or sham LAT (n=9). The LAT group received three treatments each week for six weeks (18 sessions), while the sham LAT group received the same procedure but with a sham laser device. The change from baseline to week 6 in the social subscale of the Facial Disability Index (FDI) was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes were changes in the House-Brackmann facial paralysis scale (HB), the Sunnybrook facial grading system (SB) and a stiffness scale at weeks 3 and 6. Results: A significant difference was shown in the HB score (P=0.0438) between baseline and week 3 and borderline significance was observed in both SB and stiffness scores from baseline to week 6 (P=0.0598 and P=0.0980 respectively). There was no significant difference in the FDI score between baseline and week 6. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this clinical trial is the first such investigation on this topic. Our findings suggest that using LAT may have clinical effects on long-term complications of Bell’s palsy and justify further large-scale studies.

The Effectiveness of Acupuncture Therapy in Patient with Hemorrhoid: A Case Report

Background: Hemorrhoid is an anorectal disease due to mechanical disturbances in the anal cushion and hemorrhoid venous plexus blood flow obstruction. Symptoms that often accur are bleeding, pain, prolapse, itching, and mucus discharge. Acupuncture is non-pharmacological therapeutic modalities that has been shown to improve hemorrhoid symptoms. Case: A 37-year-old woman complained of hemorroid lump with pain since last 1 year. Physical examination showed a reddish hemorrhoid prolapse, about 1.5 cm in the posterior anal without bleeding. The pain score with NRS is 4. Acupuncture therapy was performed 3 times a week at acupoints GV20, TE6, LU6, ST25, BL34, ST36, EX-UE2 and BL57. Then given continuous wave electrical stimulation, 4 Hz, 30 minutes retention. After 11 treatments, pain disappeared with NRS 0 and lump was reduced to about 0.5 cm. Conclusion: Acupuncture can improve the symptoms of hemorrhoids, which are seen by the relief of pain and the reduction of lumps. Keywords: Acupuncture, hemorrhoid, hemorrhoid pain, hemorrhoid prolapse