OBJECTIVETo search for an effective method for treatment of acute injury of soft tissue around shoulder joint.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty cases were randomly divided into an observation group, a control group 1 and a control group 2. The observation group were treated by exercise needling, electroacupuncture (EA) at Jianyu (LI 15), Jianliao (TE 14), Jianzhen (SI 9), etc. and TDP; the control group 1 were treated with EA at the same points as those in the observation group; the control group 2 were treated with oral administration of Fenbid slow-released capsules. The therapeutic effects were assessed after the first session of treatment, after one therapeutic course and one month after all the treatment by visual analog scale (VAS). RESULTS; The total effective rate of 100.0% and the cured-markedly effective rate of 95.0% in the observation group were better than 90.0%, 75.0% in the control group 1 and 70.0% and 45.0% in the control group 2 (P<0.01 or P<0.05); the VAS scores after the first treatment, after one therapeutic course and one month after all the treatment in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the two control groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe combined treatment of exercise needling, EA and TDP is a good rehabilitation method for acute injury of soft tissue around shoulder joint.