Rabu, 28 Januari 2009

Comparison of the effects of electroacupuncture plus cupping with that of the electrical pulse therapy for different types of cervical spondylopathy

By: Huang Liemi

182 cases of cervical spondylopathy were divided into 4 types, and treated with electroacupuncture plus cupping in Group A (90 cases), and with moderate or low electrical pulses in Group B (92 cases). The therapeutic effects on each type of cervical spondylopathy were compared after 3 courses of treatments. The types were as follows: 1. 49 cases of cervical type (CT): local cervical pain and restriction of movement without numbness and pain radiating to the upper limbs. 2. 48 cases of nerve root type (NRT): rigidity in the neck, unilateral or bilateral shoulder pain or with pain radiating to the fingers, cold and weakness of the limbs, and numbness of the fingers. 3. 41 cases of vertebroarterial type (VAT): neck-shoulder pain or neck-occipital pain, and posture-induced vertigo. 4. 44 cases of sympathetic type (ST): occipital pain, dizziness, palpitation, congested sensation in the chest, cold limbs and skin, blurred vision. Of the 90 cases in Group A, 48 were male and 42 female, ranging from 24 to 76 years in age, and from 1 week to 30 years in disease duration. Of the 92 cases in Group B, 45 were male and 47 female; and the age and disease course ranges in this group were comparable to those in group A. Group A received electroacupuncture plus cupping using the following points: bilateral Fengchi GB-20 needled towards the opposite eyeball to a depth of 0.5 cun to cause a needling sensation which radiated to the vertex and temple, Taiyang (M-HN-9), Tianzhu BL-10 Baihui DU-20, Huatuojiaji (M-BW-35) on, above and below the affected cervical vertebra, bilateral Hegu LI-4 and Lieque LU-7. Dazhui DU-14 was needled to a depth of 0.5 cun to cause local soreness and distension sensation radiating to the shoulders. Bilateral Jianjing GB-21 and Jianwaishu SI-14 were added for pain and soreness in the shoulders and back. A G6805-1 electroacupuncture apparatus was used to deliver consecutive pulses, and the bipolar electrodes were connected to bilateral Fengchi GB-20 for cases with dizziness, to bilateral Huatuojiaji (M-BW-35) points for those mainly with pain in the neck and restricted movement, and to bilateral Jianjing GB-21 for those mainly with soreness in the shoulders and back. The treatment lasted for 20 minutes, followed by local cupping for 10 minutes, which was given once daily. The 92 cases in Group B received electrical pulse therapy using electrodes through damp cotton cushions 7cm X 10cm in size placed at the back of the neck and the affected area. A NMT91 multifunctional apparatus was used to deliver a bi-directional 2-4000 Hz electrical pulse for 20 minutes on a daily basis. For both the groups, 10 treatments constituted a therapeutic course, and the therapeutic effects were evaluated after 3 courses of treatment. It was found that the therapeutic effect in Group A in treating the nerve root type (NRT) and the vertebroarterial type (VAT) of cervical spondylopathy was better than that in Group B (P<0.05): Group A's NRT and VAT cases both had 20 effective cases and 2 ineffective each, whereas Group B had 17 effective NRT cases with 9 ineffective, and only 11 effective VAT cases and 8 ineffective VAT cases. The reverse was found in the sympathetic type of cervical spondylopathy. The effect in Group B was better (21 effective, 2 ineffective) than in Group A (13 effective, 8 ineffective) (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in therapeutic effects on the cervical type of spondylopathy between the two therapies (24 out of 25 patients effective in Group A, compared with 22 out of 24 patients in Group B). The authors argue that the appropriate therapies should be adopted for different types of cervical spondylopathy in order to obtain the best result.

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