Acupuncture With Shockwaves: A New Method for the Stimulation of Acupuncture Points

Abstract

Background:

Acupressure and acupuncture are established medical techniques that use pressure-sensitive points on the surface of the body to achieve an effect on the whole organism. Shockwave therapy is a new technology that was initially introduced to destroy kidney stones. For several years, a milder form of shockwaves (ballistic shockwaves) has been in use in orthopedic pain therapy. Evolved from 5 years of empirical study is a new method to stimulate pressure-sensitive acupuncture points with pneumatically generated pressure pulses: extracorporeal pulse activation therapy (EPAT).

Objectives:

To determine whether the stimulation of acupuncture points with mild ballistic shockwaves is as effective as acupuncture with needles, and to determine any precautions and side effects.

Design, Setting, and Participants:

Two uncontrolled pilot studies of EPAT in arthritis. The first, from October 2003-May 2004, included 22 patients with confirmed gonarthritis, aged 30-88 years (12 men and 10 women). The second study focused on 20 patients with chronic pain in the hip joint (coxarthritis).

Interventions:

In the gonarthritis study, selection of points for the application of shockwaves was the same as with classical acupuncture, typically BL 40, GB 34, ST 36, SP 6, SP 9, and 3 local points around the patella. Every point was stimulated 3 times with shockwaves for 5-10 seconds. Treatment was repeated every second or third day. Most had 12 treatments or fewer. In the coxarthritis study, the following points were selected: BL 23, BL 25, GB 30, GB 29, GB 31, and GB 34. Treatment was repeated every second or third day over 2 weeks. In some cases, up to 12 treatments had to be administered.

Main Outcome Measures:

The effect of EPAT on pain and mobility of joints in patients with gonarthritis and coxarthrits.

Results:

Three months after the end of the treatment, 72.8% of the gonarthritis patients reported less pain. The mobility of the knee joint improved by an average of 19.1° and mobility of the hip joint had also improved. Fifteen of 20 patients with coxarthritis were almost without pain after 4 weeks of treatment. In both studies, younger patients (≤65 years) achieved better results than older patients.

Conclusions:

The stimulation of acupuncture points with EPAT seems to be an effective addition to treatment options in acupuncture. Further studies are necessary to identify the diseases for which EPAT may complement classical needle acupuncture and to determine additional applications in acupuncture opened up by this new method.