[Clinical Trials of Slow-rapid Reinforcing-reducing Needling Manipulation at Jiaji (EX-B 2) Acupoint for Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Protrusion].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of slow-rapid reinforcing-reducing needling manipulation at Jiaji (EX-B 2) acupoint for lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion.

METHODS: Sixty subjects met the inclusion criteria of disc herniation were randomly divided into treatment group (n = 30) and control group (n = 30). In the treatment group, the stimulation mode (slow or fast, reinforcement or reduction) of Jiaji acupoints (EX-B 2) was based on the status of the patients by an overall analysis of symptoms and signs. Other acupoints such as Huantiao (GB 30), Weizhong (BL 40), etc. were stimulated with uniform reinforcing-reducing manipulation. In the control group, all the acupoints were stimulated in uniform reinforcing-reducing mode. The treatment was conducted once a day, continuously for 18 days with 1 day's break between every 6 days. The clinical efficacy appraisal, visual analogue scale (VAS) and Japanese orthopaedic association (JOA) scores and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome scores were used for outcome assessment.

RESULTS: In comparison with pretreatment, the VAS scores and TCM syndrome scores were significantly decreased in both control and treatment groups (P<0. 05), and the JOA scores were markedly increased after the treatment (P<0. 05). The therapeutic effects of the treatment group were obviously superior to those of the control group in down-regulating the VAS score and TCM syndome score and up-regulating JOA score (P<0. 05).

CONCLUSION: Slow-fast reinforcing-reducing needling manipulation is superior to the routine acupuncture in the management of lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion.