OBJECTIVE:
To compare the effect of proximal needling and routine acupuncture for sciatica.
METHODS:
Sixty patients with sciatica were randomly divided into a proximal needling group and a routine acupuncture group, 30 cases in each group. The proximal needling group was treated by proximal needling at Huantiao (GB 30). The routine acupuncture group was treated by acupuncture at Huantiao (GB 30), Yinmen (BL 37), Weizhong (BL 40), Yanglingquan (GB 34), etc. with routine acupuncture method. The Numerical Pain Rating Scales (NPRS) the Japanese Orthopaedic Association Scores (JOA) were all observed before, after treatment, and in following up.
A patient receiving traction for sciatica
RESULTS:
The total effective rates were 100.0% (30/30) in both groups, with no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05) in 3 months follow up. After 5 treatments, the total improvement rate of 100.0% (30/30) in the proximal needling group was super to that of 80.0% (24/30) in the routine acupuncture group. The NPRS and JOA scores were all improved significantly after 5 treatment and in following up compared with those before treatment in two groups (all P
CONCLUSION:
The proximal needling treatment has a rapid and obvious therapeutic effect and analgesia on back pain and sciatica.
Dr. Tony has trained in hospitals in Shanghai and Anhui China and has learned from some of the masters in the world of acupuncture and Chinese medicine. Dr. Tony started learning natural healthcare modalities such as sports massage, kinesiology, herbal medicine, Reiki, and other natural forms of healing therapies when living in Melbourne, Australia in 1994. This led to his love of Acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine. Dr. Tony has been studying natural medicine for over 26 years.