Randomized Controlled Pilot Study of Acupuncture on Neck Stiffness.
10.3777/jjsam.47.173
- VernacularTitle:頚部コリ感に対するしん刺激効果の臨床試験の試み
- Author:
Tomoyuki NABETA
;
Takayuki FURUTA
;
Hiroshi KITAKOUJI
;
Kenji KAWAKITA
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
acupuncture;
randomized controlled study;
neck stiffness;
visual analogue scale
- From:Journal of the Japan Society of Acupuncture and Moxibustion
1997;47(3):173-181
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
-
Abstract:
To clarify methodological issues in clinical research involving acupuncture, a randomized controlled trial was performed on subjects complaing of neck stiffness. Thirty-two volunteers who gave informed consent were randomly alloca-ted into experimental and control groups by the envelope method. In the experimental group, the acupuncture needle was inserted to a depth of 20 mm and the swallow-pecking technique was repeated 5 times. In the control group, the acupuncture needle penetrated the skin and was removed immediately. Bilateral Tianzhu points (BL 10) were used in both groups. Acupuncture treatment was performed once a week for 3 sessions and the effect was evaluated by the subjective intensity of stiffness using a visual analogue scale. In both groups subjective evaluation was immediately reduced by acupuncture treatment and the effects tended to persist for 7 days.There was significant difference between the two groups. Methodological issues listed below were discussed for further to promote clinical research on acupuncture. 1) acupuncture points and stimulation conditions, 2) adequate control groups, 3) entry criteria, 4) volunteer bias, 5) masking technique, 6) sample numbers
