Clinical study on tuina therapy for degenerative spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine

Objective  There is definite therapeutic effect in tuina treating low back pain. The comparative observation was performed on the two types of tuina manipulation for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis, in order to explore the best tuina manipulation for lumbar spondylolisthesis. Methods  All of 121 cases with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis were divided into the experimental group and control group randomly by the visit orders and pathological gradations, 61 cases in the experimental group, including 34 cases of grade I and 27 cases of grade II, and 60 in the control group, including 34 cases of grade I and 26 cases of grade II. There was no significant difference in the general materials of the two groups. Based upon the similar tuina therapy applied on the soft tissues in the two groups, micro-regulating manual technique of the spine was applied in the experimental group, and the hip and knee-flexed and pillow method was applied in the control group. The treatment was given 3 sessions a week, with 10 sessions as one course of the treatments. The therapeutic effects were assessed after one course of the treatments. Results  There was significant difference (P<0.01) in the total effective rate and in the remarkable effective rate and curative rate of the patients with grade I between the experimental group and control group, also there was significant difference (P<0.05) in the total effective rate of the patients with grade II. Conclusions  The therapeutic effects by the micro-regulatory manual technique are comparatively better for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis, and the milder the pathological condition is, the better the therapeutic effects would be. Author: WANG Zhi-quan (1971–), male, associate chief physician