Clinical Observation Of The Effects On Lateral Humeral Epicondylitis By Dong-Gi Acupuncture Technique

We conducted a prospective randomized study about the treatment effect difference about lateral humeral epicondylitis which was treated by the Dong-Gi acupuncture and local acupuncture. The treatment effect was evaluated based on the clinical observation. The lateral epicondylitis , also termed as tennis elbow ,is one of the most common disease in the traditional Chinese medicine trauma clinic. Although the effect of various treatment modality did not have significant difference, there were shortcommings such as:1. The long term recurrence rate was neglected by the tradition conservative methods.2. Research methods always self-control, lack of objectivity, and didn't compaired with other therapies.3. Diagnostic criteria of efficacy are more straightforward, can not be cross-analysis of different groups than the right.Dong-Gi acupuncture is a combination of acupuncture and exercise which wasn't widely applied in the ordinary Chinese medicine clinic, was frequently used in clinics.but there were fewer studys talking about this. In this study we try to compare the effect of the Dong-Gi acupuncture technique with Local acupuncture, and try to prove that Dong-Gi acupuncture is better than local acupuncture in lateral humeral epicondylitis problem.Study methods:The patient was divided as chronic and acute lateral epicondylitis groups. Each group was then randomized to Dong-Gi and local acupuncture groups. Each group included 30 patients. The questionnaire of lateral epicondylitis was used to evaluate the treatment result. The difference between pre-treatment and post-treatment was evaluated.Results:There was statistically significance (p<0.05) about the pain , functional and total scores before and after treatment. The effect of Dong-Gi or local acupuncture on acute or chronic lateral epicondylitis was compared. The difference between chronic groups with different treating programs was not statistically significant in terms of pain, functional and total score after last treatment(p>0.05). But in acute groups, Dong-Gi group was statistically significant (p>0.05) in terms of pain, functional and total score after last treatment than Local acupuncture group. We concluded that Dong-Gi acupuncture was superior to local acupuncture for acute lateral epicondylitis.Discussion:Dong-Gi acupuncture in association with modern exercise has effect of In-Yen balance, Chi-Blood regulation, can be used in lateral epicondylitis. The study results revealed that the Dong-Gi acupuncture is suggested in acute lateral epicondylitis patients. Besides, there is no difference in treatment effect in chronic epicondylitis because of the longer course symptom and more severe adhesion of local muscle tissue in the later. There is no many inclusion patients in this study because the study period is short and some restriction to physicians in Taiwan. Later, many other physicians can use the Dong-Gi technique combined with other treatment methods to manage this kind of patients. In this study, we can find that using this Dong-Gi technique to treat acute patients in time will get better treatment result. However, we cannot realize if the recurrence rate in the patients receieved Dong-Gi treatment is lower than that treated with other methods or not. In concern of this point, the scholars can invest in further study in the future.