A report
was just published to confirm the efficacy of electroacupuncture treatment on
gait in patients with Parkinson’s, by using body-worn sensors, an objective
monitoring device. The pilot study was published by journal PLOS one.
Parkinsonian
gait is mainly characterized by general slow movement, in particular by a reduction
of gait speed and stride length. The progressive nature of symptoms leads to
the freezing of gait and falls. Parkinsonian gait tends to be difficult
treated, as drug treatment and deep brain stimulation have limited efficacy. Acupuncture
has been effectively used to relieve parkinsonian symptoms; however, its efficacy
remains controversy.
Recently
Dr. H Lei and colleagues in the United States conducted a clinical study by
using wearable sensor technology, to objectively assess the efficacy of acupuncture
treatment on gait in patients with Parkinson’s. PD patients were randomly
allocated into real acupuncture group (n=10) and sham acupuncture group (n=5). In
real group, electroacupuncture was applied on different acupoints on the scalp,
body and limbs, for 30min, once a week for 3 weeks. In sham group, acupuncture
needles were applied just under skin, ca 4mm at non-acupoints on the scalp,
body and limbs without stimulation. The participants and assessors were masked
to eliminate potential bias effect. Outcomes were monitored at
baseline and after completion of treatments. Measurements included gait
analysis perimeters. In addition, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale
(UPDRS), short Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I), and visual analog
scale (VAS) for pain were utilized.
Results
showed that electroacupuncture treatment statistically significantly improved
gait symptoms judged by all gait objective measurements compared with sham acupuncture
control group. In particular gait speed was markedly improved compared with
sham control.
This
was the first participants- and assessors- masked randomized control study
that, using body-worn sensor technology to objectively assess potential
benefits of EA in enhancing spatio-temporal parameters of gait in PD patients.
Reference
Lei H et al., A Pilot
Clinical Trial to Objectively Assess the Efficacy of Electroacupuncture on Gait
in Patients with Parkinson's Disease Using Body Worn Sensors. PLoS One. 2016
May 26;11(5):e0155613. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27227460
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