Therapeutic observation of acupuncture plus tuina for cervical vertigo

Objective

To evaluate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus tuina in treating cervical vertigo (CV).

Methods

One hundred CV patients were randomized into an observation group and an acupuncture group by the random number table, with 50 cases in each group. The acupuncture group received acupuncture at Xiang Ba Zhen (eight acupoints on the nape); the observation group received tuina treatment in addition to the Xiang Ba Zhen acupuncture. The two groups were both treated once every other day for 10 sessions in total. The two groups were examined by transcranial cerebral Doppler (TCD) before and after the treatment, and their therapeutic efficacies were evaluated.

Results

After the treatment, the mean velocity (Vm) of vertebral artery (VA) and basilar artery (BA) showed significant improvement in both groups (all P<0.001); there were significant differences in the Vm of VA and BA between the two groups (both P<0.05). The total effective rate was 100.0% in the observation group versus 82.0% in the acupuncture group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01).

Conclusion

Xiang Ba Zhen acupuncture as a monotherapy or used together with tuina can improve CV, but Xiang Ba Zhen plus tuina can produce a more significant efficacy.