Regular acupuncture at combined with join valley needling at ashi point for scapulohumeral periarthritis: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

ObjectiveTo observe clinical efficacy differences of regular acupuncture at empirical acupoints combined with join valley needling at ashi point compared with simple join valley needling at ashi point for scapulohumeral periarthritis. MethodsSixty-four patients of scapulohumeral periarthritis were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 32 cases in each one. Both groups underwent basic rehabilitation training. Patients in the observation group were treated with acupuncture at empirical acupoints combined with join valley needling at ashi point, while the patients of the control group were treated with simple join valley needling at ashi point. Both groups were all treated once a day, 6 times a week. Patients were treated for one course which lasted for 4 weeks. The visual analog scale (VAS) score, the Constant-Murley score and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) are compared between the two groups before and after the treatment, and the efficacy was evaluated after the treatment. Telephone investigation was applied as the followed-up after one month of the treatment. ResultsThe total effective rate in the observation group was 87.5% (28/32), and that in the control group was 71.9% (23/32), and there was statistically significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). The VAS scores, Constant-Murley scores, and HAMA scores in the patients of the observation group were lower than those of the corresponding indicators in the patients of the control group respectively, and there were statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). ConclusionsCompared with simple join valley needling at ashi point, regular acupuncture at empirical acupoints combined with join valley needling at ashi point can relieve the clinical symptoms of patients with scapulohumeral periarthritis, attenuate pains, ease anxiety and improve daily life activities better.