This blog is to share the latest research and development of acupuncture and raise the awareness of alternative treatments for your conditions, and is for information only.

Friday, 2 January 2015

Acupuncture helps improving bladder dysfunction in Parkinson’s patients

Acupuncture in combination with lower dose of tolterodine not only significantly improved urinary function but the motor functions of Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients with overactive bladder syndrome. According to a report published in the journal of Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion.

Many PD patients developed some non-motor symptoms including bladder dysfunction such as overactive bladder syndrome – urinary frequency, urgency, and leakage which could be very severe and significantly impacted on patient’s quality of life. Conventional treatment for urinary dysfunction such as tolterodine can temporarily improve bladder function but has many unpleasant side effects.

Dr Chen Yi-Liang and colleagues in China carried out a clinical study to assess the therapeutic effect of acupuncture plus lower dosage of tolterodine on PD patients with overactive bladder syndrome. PD patients with overactive bladder syndrome were divided into two groups. Combination group (n=30) were treated with electroacupuncture (once a day, 6 time a week for 6 weeks), plus tolterodine 1mg, twice a day for 6 weeks. Drug group (n=30) was given tolterodine 2mg, twice a day for 6 weeks. Urinary functions and UPDRSIII scores were assessed before and after completion of treatment.

At the end of study although both groups showed significant improvement in urinary function, the improvement was greater in combination group. Moreover patients in combination group experienced better motor functions jugged by significant changes in UPDRSIII scores. The occurrence of side effects was also markedly less in combination group than those of drug only group.

The study showed that acupuncture indeed is a treatment for multi targets not only improve non-motor symptoms but motor symptoms as wells.

Reference:
Chen YL et al., [Parkinson's disease combined with overactive bladder syndrome treated with acupuncture and medication]. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2012 Mar;32(3):215-8.     http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22471132

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