Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture at different frequencies in treating post-stroke depression. Methods A hundred patients with post-stroke depression were randomized into treatment group 1, treatment group 2, treatment group 3, and a control group, 25 in each group. The treatment groups were intervened by electroacupuncture, while 2 Hz was adopted in treatment group 1, 50 Hz in treatment group 2, and 100 Hz in treatment group 3. The control group was intervened by oral administration of Sertraline Hydrochloride tablets. The Function Independent Measure (FIM) and Hamilton Depression (HAMD) scale were adopted for observation before and after intervention, and the clinical efficacies were compared. Results The FIM and HAMD scores were significantly changed after intervention in the four groups (P<0.05). After treatment, the FIM and HAMD scores in treatment group 1 were significantly different from that in treatment group 2 and 3 (P<0.05). The FIM score in treatment group 1 was significantly different from that in the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 96.0%in treatment group 1, versus 92.0%in treatment group 2, 82.0%in treatment group 3, and 84.0%in the control group. The total effective rate in treatment group 1 was significantly different from that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusions Electroacupuncture at 2 Hz, 50 Hz, and 100 Hz all can improve the activities of daily living and depression degree in patients with post-stroke depression, while 2 Hz ranks the top in comparing the therapeutic efficacy.

Objective To compare the efficacies of transverse needling versus perpendicular needling at myofascial trigger points in treating cervical spondylosis and sift out a needling direction for a better improving effect on myofascial pain syndrome such as cervical spondylosis. Method One hundred and six patients with cervical spondylosis were randomly allocated to two groups. The transverse needling group received transverse needling at myofascial trigger points and the perpendicular needling group, perpendicular needling at myofascial trigger points. The symptoms and signs of cervical spondylosis were scored and the VAS score was recorded in the two groups before and after treatment. Result In the two groups, the VAS score had a statistically significant pre-/post-treatment difference (P<0.05) and decreased after treatment. The VAS score was significantly lower in the transverse needling group than in the perpendicular needling group after treatment, but there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). In the two groups, the cervical spondylotic symptom and sign score had a statistically significant pre-/post-treatment difference (P<0.05) and decreased after treatment. The cervical spondylotic symptom and sign score was significantly lower in the transverse needling group than in the perpendicular needling group after treatment; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). The total efficacy rate was 94.0% in the transverse needling group, which was higher than 79.6% in the perpendicular needling group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). Conclusion Both transverse needling and perpendicular needling can remove myofascial trigger points and treat cervical spondylosis, but transverse needling at myofascial trigger points is superior to perpendicular needling at myofascial trigger points.

Objective To observe the therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture at myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) in treating cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type. Methods Ninety-eight patients with cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type were randomized into a treatment group of 51 cases and a control group of 47 cases. The treatment group was intervened by acupuncture at the MTrPs, while the control group was by injection of medical solution for anti-inflammation and analgesia. The positive rate of rotate-cervix test, dizziness score, and visual analogue scale (VAS) of the head and neck pain were compared before and after intervention. Results After intervention, the positive rate, dizziness score, and VAS score were significantly changed in both groups (P＜0.05). There were significant differences in comparing the positive rate, dizziness score, and VAS score between the two groups after intervention (P＜0.05). The total effective rate was 96.1%in the treatment group versus 76.6%in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture at the MTrPs can improve the dizziness and head-neck pain in patients with cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type.

OBJECTIVETo verify the clinical therapeutic effects on shoulder joint pain of rotator cuff injury treated with electroacupuncture (EA) and Mulligan's mobilization.

METHODSA total of 120 patients of shoulder joint pain of rotator cuff injury were randomized into an EA group, a rehabilitation group and a combined therapy group, 40 cases in each one. In the EA group, EA was applied to Jianzhen (SI 9), Jianliao (TE 14), Jianyu (LI 15), Tianzong (SI 11), Jianqian (extra) and Binao (LI 14) in the affected side. Of these acupoints, Jianliao (TE 14) and Jianyu (LI 15), Jianzhen (SI 9) and Tianzong (SI 11) were stimulated with's electric apparatus. In the rehabilitation group, Mulligan's mobilization was used, including scapular mobilization, static joint mobilization and dynamic joint mobilization. In the combined therapy group, EA was used in combination with Mulligan mobilization. The treatment was given once a day in each group, 5 sessions a week, totally for 6 weeks. The pain intensity of shoulder joint (VAS), the University of California at Los Angeles shoulder rating scale (UCLA) and the range of motion (ROM) of shoulder joint were evaluated before and 6 weeks after treatment separately. The adverse reactions were recorded in each group.

RESULTSVAS scores were all reduced, UCLA scores increased and ROM improved after treatment as compared with those before treatment in the patients of the three groups (all<0.05). After treatment, VAS score, UCLA score and ROM in the combined therapy group were remarkably improved as compared with those in the EA group and the rehabilitation group (all<0.05). Regarding the improvements of VAS and UCLA scores, the results in the EA group were better than those in the rehabilitation group (both<0.05). Regarding ROM improvement, the results in the rehabilitation group were superior to those in the EA group (all<0.05). There was no adverse reaction in the two groups.

CONCLUSIONThe combined therapy of EA and Mulligan's mobilization relieves shoulder joint pain of rotator cuff injury, better than the simple application of either EA or Mulligan's mobilization.