Heat-sensitive moxibustion combined with western medication for low back pain of osteoporosis with kidney-yang deficiency: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

To compare the clinical therapeutic effect between heat-sensitive moxibustion combined with western medication and simple western medication for low back pain of osteoporosis with kidney-yang deficiency. A total of 60 patients with osteoporosis were randomized into an observation group (32 cases, 2 cases dropped off) and a control group (32 cases, 3 cases dropped off). In the control group, alendronate sodium tablet and calcium carbonate and vitamin D3 tablet were taken orally. On the basis of the control group, heat-sensitive moxibustion was applied at Mingmen (GV 4), Yaoyangguan (GV 3), Guanyuan (CV 4), Shenshu (BL 23), Zusanli (ST 36) in the observation group, once a day, 5 times a week for 8 weeks. Before and after treatment，the visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Oswestry disability index (ODI) score, bone mineral density (BMD) and TCM clinical symptom score were compared in the two groups. The VAS scores, ODI scores and TCM clinical symptom scores after treatment were reduced in the two groups (P<0.05, P<0.01), and those in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The BMD after treatment was increased in the two groups (P<0.01), and that in the observation group was higher than the control group (P<0.05). Heat-sensitive moxibustion combined with western medication could relieve low back pain, improve BMD in patients of osteoporosis with kidney-yang deficiency, and its clinical effect is superior to simple western medication.