Therapeutic efficacy observation on combining acupuncture, tuina and functional exercise for transverse process syndrome of the third lumbar vertebra

Objective

To observe the clinical effect of combining acupuncture, tuina and functional exercise for transverse process syndrome of the third lumbar vertebra.

Methods

A total of 90 cases were randomly allocated into an observation group and a medication group. The 48 cases in the observation group were treated with acupuncture, tuina and functional exercise, whereas the 42 cases in the medication group were treated with Ibuprofen sustained release capsules. Before and after treatment, the short-form McGill pain questionnaire (SF-MPQ) was employed to observe the changes in pain rating index (PRI), visual analogue scale (VAS) and present pain intensity (PPI). In addition, therapeutic efficacies were compared between two groups.

Results

The total effective rate in the observation group was 97.9%, versus 61.9% in the medication group, showing a statistical difference (P<0.05). After treatment, there were statistical differences between the two groups in sensory PRI score, affective PRI score, total PRI score, VAS score and PPI score (P<0.05); and there were also statistical differences between two groups in clinical sign scoring (P<0.05). After 4 and 8 weeks of treatment, there was a statistical difference between the two groups in relapse rate (P<0.05).

Conclusion

Combining acupuncture, tuina and functional exercise can obtain better effects and has a lower relapse rate than Ibuprofen sustained release capsules for transverse process syndrome of the third lumbar vertebra.