Acupuncture & Electro-Therapeutics Research: International Journal of Integrated Medicine

Background: One of the most commonly observed work-related musculoskeletal diseases (MSD) in university employees is low back pain (LBP). However, there is a lack of clinical studies investigating the additional effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) with exercise on unspecified chronic low back pain among university employees.Objective: To investigate the additional effects of electro-acupuncture with exercise on unspecified chronic low back pain among university employees.Methods: Through permuted two-block randomization technique, the eligible participants were randomized and allocated into the electro-acupuncture with exercise group (Group A; n=64) and exercise alone group (Group B; n=64). Group A received electro-acupuncture (EA) treatment with exercise and Group B received exercise care alone for 4 times a week for 4 weeks. Primary (pain intensity) and secondary (range of motion, functional disability, and quality of life) measures were measured at baseline, after the 4th week, 8th week, and at 6 months ' follow-up. The independent t-test and chi-square test were used to test the differences between the two groups' general characteristics. The time effect within each group was analyzed with a repeated measure ANOVA test.Results: Baseline demographic and clinical attributes show a homogenous presentation among the study groups (p>0.05). After 4 weeks of treatment, and at the end of 6 months follow up, the pain intensity, 2.9 (95% CI 2.78 to 3.01), range of motion 3.22 (95% CI −3.51 to -2.92), functional disability 9.0 (95% CI 8.68 to 9.31), and quality of life −29.3 (95% CI −31.6 to −27.1) shows significant improvement (p<0.001) in Group A than Group B.Conclusion:The results of this study suggest that electro-acupuncture could be an effective additional treatment in physical therapy for unspecified chronic low back pain Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that electro-acupuncture could be an effective additional treatment in physical therapy for unspecified chronic low back pain in university employees. This trial provided an additional knowledge for physical therapists in the field of unspecified chronic low back pain treatment.

Phantom limb pain (PLP) often occurs in post - amputation patients. Acupuncture may have a positive effect in treating PLP. This study aimed to observe the changes in plasma neuropeptide Y (NPY) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels before and after acupuncture in patients with PLP, and to evaluate the effects of acupuncture on the peripheral circulation of residual limbs by measuring the skin blood flow (SBF) and oxygen saturation (SO₂ ). Six amputees participated in this study. After 28 days of treatment, the PGE2 was significantly lower compared with that at day 0. The NPY was lower compared with that at day 0. The SBF and SO₂ change percentage in the intervention and recovery stages of each acupuncture treatment were all significantly increased. Moreover, the visual analog scale scores of PLP showed that patients felt their PLP disappeared completely and were satisfied with the acupuncture treatment. This study suggests that acupuncture was effective in treating PLP, and PGE2 and NPY may be regulators of pain transmission in PLP.

The phase II study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of non-invasive infrared polarized light device on patients with chronic migraine (CM). Forty patients aged between 18 and 60 years with a diagnosis of CM were included. Sociodemographic and clinical information were obtained by face-to-face interviews with the patients and they had migraine diary containing headache information before and monthly during 4 months of the treatment. Clinical data included age of migraine onset, duration of disease as years, total headache days per month, severity of headache assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS), number of painkillers used monthly, and impact of headache on patients' home, work and social life activities. Short form-36 (SF-36) was used to examine for the quality of life. Migraine therapy devices; both active and inactive, were given to the patients to use at home according to study protocol, double-blinded, randomized, sham-controlled trial. Statistical analysis was performed using the SAS University Edition 9.4 program. A total of 40 patients, 36 (90%) were female and t he mean age was 37.50 ± 9.77 years . The mean duration of migraine was 12.74 ± 9.55 years. Migraine therapy device was well tolerated without any side effects.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of opposing needling combined with eye acupuncture therapy on muscle spasm in post-stroke hemiplegia patients.Methods: A total of 69 post-stroke hemiplegia patients with muscle spasm who were hospitalized in the Department of Encephalopathy Rehabilitation, Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were selected as the research participants. The randomized controlled clinical trial design method was used, and they were randomly divided into the basic treatment group and the combination treatment group. The basic treatment group did not use acupuncture treatment, but only basic rehabilitation treatment. The combination treatment group was treated with opposing needling combined with eye acupuncture therapy. Both groups were treated once a day, and two days were rested after five days of continuous treatment. Five days were a course of treatment, and a total of three courses were treated. The efficacy of opposing needling combined with eye acupuncture therapy for treatment of muscle spasm in post-stroke hemiplegia patients was evaluated. The clinical neurological deficit score scale (CSS), modified Ashworth spasticity scale (MAS), simplified Fugl-Meyer scale (FMA), Barthel index scale (BI) and total score were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. Results: There was no significant difference in CSS scores between the two groups before treatment (P>0.05). After 19 days of treatment, the CSS scores of the two groups were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in MAS scores between the two groups before treatment (P>0.05). After 19 days of treatment, the MAS scores of the two groups were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in FMA scores between the two groups before treatment (P>0.05). After 19 days of treatment, the FMA scores of the two groups were significantly improved compared with those before treatment, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in BI scores between the two groups before treatment (P>0.05). After 19 days of treatment, the BI scores of the two groups were significantly improved compared with those before treatment, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: Compared with the single treatment method, opposing needling combined with eye acupuncture in the treatment of muscle spasm in post-stroke hemiplegia patients has significant advantages in clinical neurological function, spastic improvement, motor function and daily living ability, and has obvious clinical significance in the long-term prognosis of patients.

Posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) is a common complication secondary to tibial plateau fractures (TPFs) after internal fixation. Early continuous passive motion (CPM) and needle-knife therapy are both alternative medicine treatments that have been beneficial to PTOA. CPM and needle-knife therapy are commonly applied separately in the treatment of orthopedic diseases and soft tissue injuries, but they both have limitations. In this study, we combined CPM and needleknife therapy to observe its efficacy on PTOA caused by postoperative TPFs and its possible mechanisms. A rabbit model of TPFs after internal fixation was established by surgical method. Rabbits were randomly divided into five groups: Normal control (NC) group, Sedentary (SED) group, CPM group, Needle-knife group, CPM + Needle-knife group. Range of motion (ROM), knee diameter and medial cartilaginous surface of the tibial plateau were observed after 4 weeks of treatment. Levels of inflammatory cytokines in the supernatants from knee joint fluid, including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The gross view of ligament tissues was detected by immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The gross view of ligament tissues was detected by histomorphology, including Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining and Masson's trichrome staining. Other than that, the protein expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13 and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining, respectively. Finally, the apoptosis of ligament cells was assessed through DAPI and TUNEL assay. Our data showed that ROM was reduced while knee diameter was increased in the SED group, but they were relieved by CPM and needle-knife—either singly or in combination treatment. CPM and needle-knife therapy also improved the effect of TPFs on other parameters, including the medial cartilaginous surface of the tibial plateau improvement, MMP-13 and TIMP-1 expression in the medial collateral ligament (MCL), and lateral collateral ligament (LCL), knee joint fluid IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α levels, and condition of ligament cells apoptosis. Our findings suggested that early CPM plus needle-knife therapy might be a useful and promising therapeutic method for PTOA.