OBJECTIVETo investigate therapeutic effects of balance acupuncture on scapulohumeral periarthritis (SP)and the mechanisms.

METHODSThirty male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into a blank group (group B), a model group (group M) and a balance acupuncture group (group BA) with 10 rabbits in each group. SP model was established by using persistent mechanical strain and ice compress. Balance acupuncture at "Jiantong" point was applied in the animals in group BA, but not in the rabbits of the other two groups. Joint movement and pathological changes in tissues around the affected shoulder joint were observed, and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in plasma and the affected surrounding tissues, and DNA contents in tendon of supraspinatus muscle were measured.

RESULTSThe content of plasma 5-HT in group BA [(18.16 +/- 4.44) ng/mL] was significantly lower than that in group M [(23.28 +/- 5.89) ng/mL] (P < 0.05), but without obvious difference in IL-1beta content between the two groups (P > 0.05). Compared with group M, the contents of IL-1beta, 5-HT in affected surrounding tissues, and DNA expression in tendon of supraspinatus muscle were significantly lowered to va rious extent in group BA (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBalance acupuncture can effectively improve local and systemic pathological situation induced by SP by way of reducing pain-producing factors, inflammatory factors and DNA expression to alleviate local organization and adhesions in rabbits with experimental SP.