OBJECTIVETo compare the effects of need-in-row combined with herb-partition moxibustion,need-in-row and conventional acupuncture for superior gluteal nerve entrapment syndrome.

METHODSTotally 105 patients were randomly assigned into a combination group,a need-in-row group and an acupuncture group,35 cases in each one. In the combination group and needle-in-row group,needle-in-row therapy was used at the pain tendon region of the pathological waist-hip part,and TDP was combined. Also,herb-partition moxibustion was applied at the same part after needle-in-row in the combined group. In the acupuncture group,conventional acupuncture was implemented at Weizhong(BL 40),Yanglingquan(GB 34),Zhibian(BL 54),Huantiao(GB 30),Sanyinjiao(SP 6) and Jiaji of L-L(EX-B 2),and TDP was applied. All the treatment was given once a day for four weeks. The changes of pain scores were compared after treatment.

RESULTSThe pain scores decreased obviously after treatment in all the groups(all<0.05). The scores of the combination group and the needle-in-row group declined more apparently than that of the acupuncture group(both<0.05). The score of the combination group reduced more obviously than that of the needle-in-low group(<0.05). The markedly effective rates of the combination group and the needle-in-row group were 88.6%(31/35) and 68.6%(24/35),which were higher than 40.0%(14/35) of the acupuncture group(both<0.05),and the markedly effective rate of the combination group was better than that of the needle-in-row group(<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSNeed-in-row combined with herb-partition moxibustion show definite effect for superior gluteal nerve entrapment syndrome,and it is better than those of simple needle-in-row therapy and conventional acupuncture.