Manual acupuncture produced stronger analgesic effect on lateral epicondylalgia than laser acupuncture

Lateral epicondylalgia is a challenging condition to treat. Laser acupuncture has been recently used to this condition. A meta-analysis to compare the analgesic effect of laser acupuncture and manual acupuncture found that manual acupuncture exerted better pain relief effect than laser acupuncture. The study was recently published in the American Journal of Chinese Medicine.

Lateral epicondylalgia has been recognized for a long time. The typical signs and symptoms include pain and tenderness over the outer part of elbow. It is an acute or chronic inflammation of the tendons that joins the forearm muscles on the outside of elbow (lateral epicondyle). Lateral epicondylalgia is regarded as an overuse injury that is difficult to treat, prone to recurrent bout and may last up to 2 years.

Laser acupuncture is used recently to treat pain-related conditions. Compared with manual acupuncture, laser applied to acupoint has many advantages such as painless, aseptic, safe and dosage adjustable. It is believed that the pain relief achieved by laser acupuncture is related to the metabolism of adenosine triphosphate because it encourages the myofascial trigger point to absorb energy and thereby cause local hypoxia to increase blood circulation, which subsequently decrease the pain caused by lateral epicondylalgia.

By inserting needle into the acupoint manual acupuncture activates biosignals surrounding acupoints. On the one hand the signals are sent to certain brain region, leading to the increased release of endorphin, relieving pain. On the other hand, manual acupuncture stimulation induced an increase in local levels of adenosine, a neuromodulators with analgesic property, which will enhance pain relief.

Researchers in Taiwan conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the analgesic effect of laser acupuncture and manual acupuncture to treating lateral epicondylalgia. They collected the relevant data from many databases from 1980 to 2013. The review study included 9 randomized study articles, of 6 examined manual acupuncture and others focused on laser acupuncture. They found that manual acupuncture immediately relieved the pain of lateral epicondylalgia, but its long-term analgesic effect is unremarkable. Applying it at a suitable acupuncture point and to an optimal acupuncture depth can effectively treat lateral epicondylalgia.

The study indicates that manual acupuncture applied to lateral epicondylalgia produces stronger evidence of pain relief than the laser acupuncture does.

Reference:

Chang WD et al., Analgesic effect of manual acupuncture and laser acupuncture for lateral epicondylalgia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Chin Med. 2014;42(6):1301-14. doi: 10.1142/S0192415X14500815.    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1725258/

Acupuncture helps reduce muscle hypertonicity, relieve muscle tension, pain and discomfort in children with cerebral palsy

In the United States, clinical studies of acupuncture treatment for children with cerebral palsy were performed by researchers at the University of Arizona.

In a randomized controlled study to assess effect of acupuncture on motor function of children, aged 12 to 72 months, with cerebral palsy spasticity was performed by the Health Sciences Centre. Following 16 weeks of acupuncture treatment, children with cerebral palsy spasticity displayed marked improvement in their gross motor function compared with control group. The improvement in acupuncture treated children exceeded researcher’s expectations. The study suggested that acupuncture could help children improve their ability to function physically.

Another study was performed by the Paediatrics Department. The study involved in several children and was to assess what extent of muscle hypertonicity can be relieved by auricular acupuncture. It was found that auricular treatment has particular therapeutic effect on one child. After just a few treatments it was noted that his muscles were not as hard as they were before treatment. By the end of 16 treatments with the ear probe, the child’s limb thrusting was reduced by 50 percent, a significant improvement.

There studies suggest that acupuncture is promising to improve symptoms of cerebral palsy.  

Reference:

Downer J, Acupuncture for cerebral palsy. Acupuncture, January 2014.  
http://www.stratfordacupuncture.com/acupuncture-cerebral-palsy/

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

Acupuncture improved symptoms of ataxia after stroke

Acupuncture techniques such as “3 acupoints regulating balance”, “3 acupoints regulating tremor” and “3 acupoints regulating movement” significantly improved symptoms of ataxia. A case report was published in the journal of Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion.

Ataxia is a term used to describe a group of neurological disorders. It usually results from damage to the cerebellum which plays an essential role of body’s co-ordination, and/or other parts of nervous system. The symptoms of ataxia include difficulties with walking, balance, speaking, vision and many more. Treatment is complicated and difficult depending on types of ataxia, such as hereditary ataxia, acquired ataxia etc. 

Recently doctors in China treated a 68-year old, male patient with 2-year history of ataxia after stroke. The patient had extreme difficulty in walking and needed two people to support him while standing or walking. He was treated by specific acupuncture techniques called “3 acupoints regulating balance” – 1.5 cun below the lower edge of occipital protuberance, “3 acupoints regulating tremor” – chorea-tremor control area and “3 acupoints regulating movement” – motor area; plus acupoints GB12, GB20, GV16, BL10 and C3-C6 Jiaji acupoints. Acupuncture stimulation on above acupoints for 30 min, once daily, 5 days a week.

One month after acupuncture, the patient’s condition such as walking and balance was improved. He could walk steadily up to 50 to 100 meters, supported by onlyone person. Two-month following acupuncture treatment, the patient could walk alone without any help and lived independently. One-year follow-up found the improvement was still maintained.

Reference:

Zhang SL.[Professor ZHANG Yu-Lian's experiences in treatment of post-stroke ataxia by regulating marrow sea acupuncture]. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2014 Aug;34(8):807-9.   http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25335266

Acupuncture improved psychological profiles of migraine patients while reducing migraine attack

Acupuncture has been reported to be very effective in treating migraine. Now it is found that acupuncture also improve psychological profiles of patients with migraine according to a study published in the journal of Indian J Physiol Pharmacol.

Psychological problems are prominent among migraine patients with severe headache, especially among those with chronic daily headache. A very high percentage of patients with chronic daily headache are depressed. Some patients also suffer from paranoia, hypomania and many others. Conventional approach such as painkillers only temporarily relief headache and do not have effect on the psychological profiles of migraine patients.

Dr. Vijayalakshmi and colleagues in India investigated effect of acupuncture on psychological profiles of migraine patients. Sixty patients with migraine were randomly divided into acupuncture group and drug treatment group. Patients in the former group received 10 sessions of electroacupuncture treatment within 30 days. Patients in late group were given oral flunarizine 20 mg daily along with paracetamol 500 mg when it is necessary for 30 days. Assessment was carried out before and after completion of treatment, including quality of life questionnaires and migraine disability questionnaires.

It was found that both acupuncture and drug treatments markedly relieved headache compared with prior treatment scores. Acupuncture significantly improved psychological profiles such as depression, anxiety and hypomania. However pain relief drugs did not affect psychological profiles of migraine patients.

Authors conclude that acupuncture is a better treatment option than the conventional therapy. It not only relieves pain also improved psychological profiles in patients with migraine.

Reference:

Vijayalakshmi I et al., Comparison of effectiveness of acupuncture therapy and conventional drug therapy on psychological profile of migraine patients. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2014 Jan-Mar;58(1):69-76.    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25464680

Acupuncture complements with Western medicine in treating with hypertension and psychological symptoms

Acupuncture treatment, alongside with conventional medicine, helps reduce higher blood pressure, calm the patient’s fear and other psychological symptoms and enhance recovery of a patient treated in the intensive care unit of the hospital. According to a case report published in the journal of Complementary Therapies in Medicine.

The report recorded the extreme physiological and emotional shifts manifested in the patient’s tongue on a daily basis which was rarely observed in other hospital settings.

Dr. Kreindler and colleagues, in the Bnai-Zion Medical Center, Israel, reported a case study of individualized acupuncture treatment according to the changes in the tongue of the patient. They reported that an 85-year-old female patient suffering from hypertensive crisis was administered into intensive care unit. Her doctor requested acupuncture treatment in order to provide integrative care for her. The changes in patient’s tongue and pulse were recorded on the daily basis. During the course of medication, cardiac catherterization and recovery, different acupoints were selected according to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) diagnosis, including main symptoms, tongue and pulse diagnosis.

It was found that blood pressure of patient normalized within hours after acupuncture and medication. Acupuncture markedly reduced pain, anxiety and improved the wellbeing during the course of treatment and recovery.

The authors suggest that combination of conventional medicine and TCM carries potential to supplement each other and to provide a better patient care.

Reference:

Kreindler GM et al., A tongue’s tale — A case report of traditional Chinese medicine integration in the cardiology department. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, Volume 22, Issue 6, Pages 1041–1046, December 2014.   http://www.complementarytherapiesinmedicine.com/article/S0965-2299%2814%2900156-3/abstract

Acupuncture effectively reduced symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder

Acupuncture treatment to veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) significantly reduced PTSD severity and improved pain, depression and physical and mental health functioning. It was reported in the journal of Med Care.

PTSD is an anxiety disorder and develops after a terrifying ordeal that involved the physical harm or the threat of physical harm, such as serious road accidents, violent personal assault, warfare and natural disasters e.g. earthquake. PTSD was first brought to public attention in relation to military combat veterans. Someone with PTSD will often relieve the traumatic event through nightmare and flashback, and may experience the feeling of irritability, guilty and isolation. These symptoms are often severe and persistent enough to have a significant impact on person’s day-to-day life. The common treatments include psychotherapy e.g. cognitive behavioural therapy and medication such as antidepressants. Those treatments are not always satisfactory.

Dr. Engel and colleagues in the United State carried out a randomized clinical trial to assess the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of patients with PTSD. Fifty-five patients with PTSD were divided to two groups, one was treated with acupuncture plus usual PTSD care, and another group was only treated with usual PTSD care as a control. Acupuncture lasted ca. 60 min each time, twice weekly for 4 weeks. Primary outcome measurements include the changes in PTSD symptom improvement on PTSD checklist and the Clinician-administered PTSD scale. The secondary outcomes include improvement in depression, pain severity, mental and physical health functioning. The outcomes were monitored at the end of treatment, 4 and 8 weeks following treatment.

It was reported that acupuncture significantly reduced PTSD severity compared with usual PTSD care alone. Acupuncture also markedly improved the symptoms in the secondary outcome measurements such as pain severity, depression and mental and physical health functioning. The therapeutic effects of acupuncture maintained to the last follow-up monitoring.

The study indicates that acupuncture is very effective in treating PTSD and associated symptoms.

Reference:

Engel CC et al., Randomized Effectiveness Trial of a Brief Course of Acupuncture for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Med Care. 2014 Dec;52 Suppl 5:S57-64.    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25397825