OBJECTIVETo compare clinical efficacy differences among electroacupuncture (EA), transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy and acupoint massage (AM) on periarthritis of shoulder.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty cases were randomly divided into an EA group, a TENS group and an AM group, 40 cases in each one. The selection of acupoints in the three groups were all the same, which were Jianqian (Extra), Xiabai (LU 4), Jianyu (LI 15), Binao (LI 14), Jianliao (TE 14), Naohui (TE 13), Xiaohai (SI 8) and Houxi (SI 3). EA was applied in the EA group with dense-disperse wave for 30 min, TENS therapy with dense-disperse wave for 30 min in the TENS group and AM combined with mobilization manipulation of Tuina on the shoulder in the AM group. All of the treatment was given once a day, six times a week and totally 4 weeks were required. The score of visual analogue scale (VAS) and improvement of shoulder joint activities in the three groups before and after the treatment were observed.

RESULTSAfter the treatment, the VAS score and activities of shoulder joint were all improved in the three groups (all P < 0.001) and AM group had more obvious improvement than TENS group and EA group (all P < 0.05). The effective and curative rate was 61.50 (24/39) in the AM group, which was superior to 42.9% (15/35) in the EA group and 44.4% (16/36) in the TENS group (both P < 0.05). The effective and curative rate of shoulder joint activities in the AM group was 61.5% (24/39), which was superior to 48.6% (17/35) in the EA group and 44.4% (16/36) in the TENS group (both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe acupoint massage has obvious clinical efficacy on periarthritis of shoulder, which could effectively relieve the pain and improve activities of shoulder joint, and it is superior to EA and TENS therapy.