[Observation on therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture on activity disturbance of the shoulder joint after operation of fracture]

Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2008 Oct;28(10):727-9.
[Article in Chinese]

Abstract

Objective: To observe clinical therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture, radiation of infrared rays plus passive exercise on movement disorders of shoulder joint after operation of fracture of surgical neck of humerous.

Methods: Sixty cases were randomly divided into an acupuncture plus exercise group (n = 32) and an exercise therapy group (n = 28). The acupuncture plus exercise group were treated with electroacupuncture and infrared ray radiation at rigid soft tissue on the affected side, with adjuvant points, Xuehai (SP 10), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Yang-lingquan (GB 34) selected for acupuncture treatment and after the needles were withdrawn passive exercise of the shoulder joints were made. The exercise therapy group were treated by active exercise after passive exercise of shoulder joint. Therapeutic effects were observed after treatment for one month, and shoulder pain scores VAS and scores of activity of shoulder joint before and after treatment were observed.

Results: The total effective rate of 84.4% in the acupuncture plus exercise group was better than 64.3% in the exercise group. Before and after treatment, the VAS scores were 5.8 +/- 0.5 and 3.1 +/- 0.3 in the acupuncture plus exercise group, and 5.7 +/- 0.5, 4.3 +/- 0.4 in the exercise therapy group, respectively, with significant decreases after treatment in the two groups (both P < 0.001), the acupuncture plus exercise group being more significantly decreased than the exercise therapy group (P < 0.001). Before and after treatment, the total scores of activity of shoulder joint were 103.38 +/- 11.10 and 193.61 +/- 10.21 in the acupuncture plus exercise group, and 103.01 +/- 10.01 and 133.45 +/- 9.81 in the exercise therapy group, respectively, with significant increases after treatment in the two groups (both P < 0. 01), the acupuncture plus exercise group being better than the exercise therapy group (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: Electroacupuncture, radiation of infrared rays plus passive exercise has obvious therapeutic effect on movement disorders of shoulder joint after operation of fracture of surgical neck of humerous.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Electroacupuncture*
  • Exercise Therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infrared Rays / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Motor Activity*
  • Neck / physiopathology
  • Neck / surgery*
  • Postoperative Complications / physiopathology
  • Postoperative Complications / therapy*
  • Radiotherapy
  • Shoulder Fractures / complications
  • Shoulder Fractures / physiopathology
  • Shoulder Fractures / surgery*
  • Shoulder Joint / physiopathology*