Clinical research of atlantoaxial instability treated with the combination of ulna-tibia needling therapy and “point-to-surface” tuina manipulation

Abstract

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical therapeutic effect on atlantoaxial instability treated with the combination of ulna-tibia needling therapy and “point-to-surface” tuina manipulation. MethodsA total of 64 outpatients diagnosed as atlantoaxial instability were collected and randomized into a control group and an observation group, 32 cases in each one. In the control group, flunarizine hydrochloride capsules were used for oral administration. In the observation group, the combined treatment of ulna-tibia needling therapy and “point-to-surface” tuina manipulation was adopted. The ulna-tibia needling therapy was exerted at the cutaneous region of hand taiyang meridian on the ulnar region (from carpal joint to elbow joint) on both sides. The “point-to-surface” tuina manipulation included “one-point and two-surface” technique, “upper-to-lower pressing” method and “lifting-trembling” method. The treatment was provided once daily, consecutively for 5 times. The scores of neck symptoms and physical signs, atlantoaxial axle separation degree and clinical therapeutic results were taken as the observation indicators to evaluate the treatment effect. ResultsAfter treatment, the curative rate and the total effective rate in the observation group were all higher significantly than the control group (all P < 0.01). The scores of clinical symptoms and physical signs were statistically different in the self-comparison of each group before and after treatment (all P < 0.05). After treatment, the scores of clinical symptoms and physical signs, the excellence rate of atlantoaxial axle separation and the effective rate in the observation group were all significantly better than those of the control group (all P < 0.01). ConclusionThe combination of ulna-tibia needling therapy and “point-to-surface” tuina manipulation achieves the better clinical therapeutic effect as compared with flunarizine hydrochloride.