OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of digital acupoint pressure for treatment of the nerve root type of cervical spondylosis.

METHODSFour hundred cases were randomly divided into a digital acupoint pressure group (DAP group) and a medicine group, 200 cases in each group. Acupoints of Quepen (ST 12), Jianjing (GB 21) and Tianzong (ST 11) etc. were used for digital pressing in the DAP group; and Chinese herb medicine of Gentongping was routinely taken in the medicine group. After three treatment courses, the symptoms of pain and numbness, the signs of pressure measurement by compression of head, brachial plexus drawer test and arm myodynamia, as well as the total cumulative scores of daily living capability, were compared.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the total cumulative scores of numbness, pressure measurement by compression of head, brachial plexus drawer test, arm myodynamia and daily living capability in both groups were obviously better than those of before treatment (all P<0.01); but there was a significant difference on the total cumulative score of the symptoms and signs between the two groups. The cured rate of 78.0% and total effective rate of 99.0% in the DAP group were better than those of 61.0% and 87.0% in the medicine group, respectively (both P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONDigital acupoint pressure plays an active role in improving the symptoms and signs on patients with nerve root type of cervical spondylosis, which is better than Chinese herb medicine of Gentongping.