Observation on therapeutic effects of acupuncture and tuina in treatment of sprains and strains of minor joints at four extremities

Objective  To observe the clinical therapeutic effects of acupuncture at the bony clefts in combination with tuina therapy in the treatment of sprains and strains of minor joints at the four extremities. Methods  Ninety cases of sprains and strains of minor joints at four extremities including metacarpophalangeal (metatarsophalangeal) joints] were divided randomly into three groups by the consulting order. Acupuncture group, in which 30 cases were treated by acupuncture at the bony clefts; tuina group, in which 30 cases were treated by tuina therapy; and observation group, in which 30 cases were treated by acupuncture at the bony clefts and tuina therapy. The treatment was given 6 times a week as one course of treatments, and the therapeutic effects were observed after 2 courses of treatments. Results  The cure rates of the observation group, the acupuncture group and the tuina group reached 50.0%, 20.0% and 16.7% respectively, and the total effective rates reached 93.4%, 70.0% and 73.3% respectively. There were statistical significance between the observation group and the acupuncture and tuina groups (P<0.05); while there was not a statistical difference between the acupuncture group and the tuina group. It was indicated that the therapeutic effect of the observation group was better than that of the acupuncture group and the tuina group. Conclusion  Acupuncture at the bony clefts in combination with tuina therapy is quite effective in the treatment of sprains and strains of metacarpophalangeal (metatarsophalangeal) joints. Author: CUI Ming (1968–), male, physician