OBJECTIVETo verify the clinical efficacy on rear thigh muscles strain of athletes treated with surrounding needling of electroacupuncture and hot compress of Chinese medicine.

METHODSEighty-six cases were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 43 cases in each one. In the observation group, surrounding needling of electroacupuncture and hot compress of Chinese medicine were used at Ashi points around the local affected area of rear thigh muscles. In the control group, conventional needling method and local cupping were applied at Chengfu (BL 36), Yinmen (BL 37), Weizhong (BL 40), etc. The treatment was given once a day. Ten treatments made one session. Two sessions were required. The score of rear thigh muscles pain, swelling and tenderness, walking function recovery and the total score were compared before and after treatment between two groups. The efficacy was compared between two groups.

RESULTSThe score of pain, swelling and tenderness, walking function recovery and the total score were reduced obviously after treatmeat in two groups (all P < 0.01), and the improvements in the observation group were superior to those in the control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The cured and remarkably effective rate was 83.7% (36/43) in the observation group, which was better than 60.5% (26/43) in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe efficacy of the surrounding needling of electroacupuncture and the hot compress of Chinese medicine is significant on rear thigh muscles strain for the athletes, which is superior to that of the conventional needling method and cupping in terms of the improvements in the symptoms and physical signs as well as the recovery of the walking function.