Resisting method of acupuncture at movement-painful points for treating the refractory cases of frozen shoulder during adhesion period: A randomized controlled study: 动痛穴阻力针法治疗粘连期难治性肩凝症的随机对照观察

Abstract

ObjectiveTo objectively evaluate the clinical effect of resisting method of acupuncture at movement-painful points on treating the refractory cases of frozen shoulder during adhesion period, and to compare with that of the conventional acupuncture method. MethodsAccording to the random grouping principle, 90 patients with frozen shoulder during adhesion period were divided into “resisting method acupuncture group, general acupuncture group, and physiotherapy group”, 30 patients in each. In the resisting method acupuncture group, the resisting method of needling was applied at the “movement-painful points”, and during acupuncture the patient was asked to do shoulder movements. In the general acupuncture group, the conventional needling method of acupuncture was applied at the conventional three shoulder-acupoints. In the physiotherapy group, the patients were treated with shock wave at the affected shoulder. All groups were treated once a day, 5 times a week, a total of 2 weeks as a course of treatment. After one course of treatment, the clinical effect of the three groups was evaluated. The shoulder pain and shoulder function scale (Constant-Murley), Rating Scale of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), and infrared thermal imaging temperature change score were observed. ResultsAfter treatment, the shoulder pain was relieved and movement improved in all three groups, whilst the cured and remarkably effective rate of the resisting method acupuncture group was 96.7% (29/30), better than those of the general acupuncture group 86.2% (25/29) and the physiotherapy group 73.3% (22/30), with a statistically significant difference (P<0.05); the VAS score of the resisting method acupuncture group was significantly lower than those of the other two groups (P<0.05), the Constant-Murley score and the ASES score were significantly lower than those of the other two groups (all P<0.05), and the infrared thermal imaging temperature change score was significantly improved in comparing with those of the other two groups, with a statistically significant difference (both P<0.05). ConclusionThe resisting method of needling has an obvious analgesic effect and is able to restore the joint movement function in the treatment of refractory frozen shoulder during adhesion period.