ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical efficacies of ultramicro needle knife plus Maitland technique in treating knee osteoarthritis.MethodEighty patients were randomly allocated to observation and control groups, 40 cases each. The observation group received ultramicro needle knifeplus Maitland technique and the control group, Maitland technique alone. The subjects’ symptoms were scored using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Lysholm Knee Score Scale (LKSS) before and after four and six weeks of treatment. The clinical therapeutic effects were evaluated in the two groups.ResultAfter four weeks of treatment, the total efficacy rate was 91.9% in the observation group (37patients) and 76.3% in the control group (38 patients); there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.01). The VAS score and the LKSS score improved significantly in the two groups compared with before treatment (P<0.01) and improved more in the observation group than in the control group (P<0.01). There were no statistically significant differences in the VAS score and the LKSS score between after six and four weeks of treatment in the observation group (P>0.05). There were statistically significant differences in the VAS score and the LKSS score between after six and four weeks oftreatment in the control group (P<0.05). No adverse reactions occurred during the whole treatment course.ConclusionUltramicro needle knife plus Maitland technique is significantly superior to Maitland technique alone and can markedly relieve the pain and dysfunction in patients with knee osteoarthritis. It is characterized by short time to produce an effect, a lasting therapeutic effect and high safety.

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical efficacy of nape eight needles plus cephalic ashi point acupuncture in treating cervicogenic headache.MethodA randomized controlled trial was carried out. Eighty-nine patients with cervicogenic headache were randomly allocated to two groups, the treatment group of 45 cases and the control group of 44 cases. Nape eight points [bilateral Fengchi(GB20), Fengfu(GV16), Dazhui(GV14) and “nape Sihuaxue”] and cephalic ashi points were selected inthe treatment group and Huatuo jiaji(Ex-B2) points at the affected cervical vertebrae and points Tianzhu(BL10), Fengchi, Yuzhen(BL9), Lieque(LU7), Taichong(LR3)and Zulinqi(GB41), in the control group. Every group was treated three times a week for two weeks. A follow-up was performed at one month after the completion of treatment. Headache was scored using the VAS, and continuous headache time, headache frequency and range of motion (ROM) of cervical spine were scored before treatment, at the end ofone week’s treatment, at the completion of treatment and at one month after the completion of treatment. The therapeutic effect at the completion of treatment and the follow-up was evaluated according to criteria for assessing the therapeutic effect.ResultAt the completion of treatment and the follow-up, the headache score and the range of motion of cervical spine score were lower in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05). In the treatment group, the total efficacy rate was 91.1% at the completion of treatment and 86.7% at the follow-up; the short-term and the long-term therapeutic effects were superior to those in the control group (P<0.05). After one week of treatment, the total efficacy rate was 57.8%, which was higher than 11.4% in thecontrol group (P<0.05).ConclusionTreatment with nape eight needles plus cephalic ashi point needle retention has a marked improving effect on headache symptoms and range of motion of cervical spine in cervicogenic headache. Its short-term and long-termtherapeutic effects are superior to those of conventional acupuncture. It has a higher efficacy rate and effect-producing speed.

Objective To observe the therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture at the eight nape points in treating vertigo due to vertebrobasilar arterial insufficiency. Method Totally 150 patients with vertigo caused by vertebrobasilar arterial insufficiency were randomized into acupuncture group 1, acupuncture group 2, and a medication group, 50 each. Acupuncture group 1 was intervened by acupuncture at the eight nape points, acupuncture group 2 was by acupuncture at Baihui (GV20), Fengchi (GB20), Tianzhu (BL 10), etc, and the medication group was by oral administration of Flunarizine. The symptoms and Transcranial Doppler (TCD) results were observed before and after intervention in the 3 groups. Result After treatment, the excellent rate was 82.0%in acupuncture group 1, versus 62.0%in acupuncture group 2 and 52.0%in the medication group, and the excellent rate of acupuncture group 1 was significantly different from that of the other two groups (P＜0.01). TCD showed that the systolic velocity, mean velocity, and pulsatility index of the bilateral vertebral arteries were markedly improved in acupuncture group 1, significantly better than that of the other two groups. Conclusion Acupuncture at the eight nape points can significant improve the vertebrobasilar arterial blood supply.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus bloodletting therapy for post-stroke limb sensory disturbance.Methods Ninety patients with post-stroke limb sensory disturbance were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups, 45 cases each. The treatment group received acupuncture plus bloodletting therapy and the control group, acupuncture alone. The disease and motor function were scored in the two groups before and after treatment. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups.Results There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in the disease score and the motor function score in the two groups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in the disease score and the motor function score between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05). The total efficacy rate was 91.1% in the treatment group and 66.7% in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.01). Conclusions Acupuncture plus bloodletting therapy is an effective way to treat post-stroke sensory disturbance. It can improve the clinical symptoms and motor function in the patients.

Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness of abdominal acupuncture plus the Confluent Points of the Eight Extraordinary Meridian in treating chronic pharyngitis. Methods:Thirty eligible subjects with chronic pharyngitis were given abdominal acupuncture plus needling Lieque (LU 7) and Zhaohai (KI 6), two out of the Confluent Points of the Eight Extraordinary Meridian, once a day, 10 sessions as a course, and the therapeutic efficacy was evaluated after a treatment course. Results:After a treatment course, of the 30 subjects, 21 were recovered, 5 showed markedly effective, 2 were improved, and 2 failed,the total effective rate was 93.3%. Conclusion:Abdominal acupuncture plus the Confluent Points of the Eight Extraordinary Meridian is effective in treating chronic pharyngitis, worth promoting in clinic.

One hundred and twenty-four cases of articulations zyqapophysiales discocation of the inferior thoracic vertebra were treated first with Tuina manipulation of rolling-kneading to relax the affected muscles, next with that of tenderness-plucking to relax the tender muscles and next with that of fixed-point oblique-pulling to restore and treat the injured soft tissues and finally with that of palmpressing flatly to adjust the dislocation. The results showed that 94 cases were cured, 21 improved and 9 ineffective after three treatments. The total effective rate was 92.7 %.

Objective To observe the effect of abdominal acupuncture combined with exercise therapy on post-stroke spastic hemiplegia. Methods 120 patients with post-stroke spastic hemiplegia were randomly divided into observation group and control group, 60 cases in each group. The observation group was treated with abdominal acupuncture plus exercise therapy. The abdomen acupoints were taken at Chungwan, Hsiawan, Qihai, Guanyuan, Shangqu, Qipang, Huaroumen and Wailing. Exercise therapy was taken after acupuncture treatment. The treatment was taken every other day, 3 times a week for a total of 24 times. Control group only took simple exercise therapy which was consistent with the treatment group. Results The clinical efficacy and FMA scores of limbs before and after the treatment showed that the total effective rate of the two groups was significantly different(P＜0. 01), and there was significant difference(P＜0. 05) in FMA scores between the two groups after treatment. The FMA scores of the observation group after treatment were significantly different from those of the control group before treatment(P＜0. 01). Conclusion The effect of abdominal acupuncture combined with exercise therapy on post-stroke spastic hemiplegia is better than that of simple exercise therapy.