The Effectiveness Of Electroacupuncture Combined With Tuina For Patients With Cervical Spondylotic Radiculopathy

ObjectivesBy means of literature research on the acupoints for the cervical spondylotic radiculopathy and the clinical research on participants with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy, we try to evaluate the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture combined with tuina on the cervical spondylotic radiculopathy.MethodsElectronic searches were performed, along with manual searched in the reference lists of relevant papers. We identified eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) utilizing acupunture to treat cervical spondylotic radiculopathy. Then we reviewed all the randomized controlled trials on acupunction for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy which had been published in the recent10years. We analysed the law of selecting acupoints for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy which used in the RCT. Then we recruited patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy.122participants with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy were randomized into two groups according1:1ratio,61were in treatment group,61were in control group. The participants in the treatment group were given electroacupuncture and tuina treatment, while the control group were given traction treatment. All the participants were treated every other day for4weeks. The primary outcome measurement was the clinical comprehensive curative efficacy. The secondary outcome measurement were MPQ、 NDI etc.Results1. According to literature research, we found that acupoints on the hand tai-yang small intestine meridian were used most, hand yang-ming large intestine was the second, the foot shao-yang gallbladder was the third, then the foot tai-yang bladder meridian and du meridian. At the same time, the top six acupoint used most were neck jia-ji points (36times), GB20(22times), DU14(22times), SI3(20times), LI4(19times), SJ5(19times), and the distribution of the acupoints were that mostly located on the lower extremities, then the back and neck.2.Participants in two groups were comparable in sexage, age and disease course (P>0.05)3. efficacy:in the treatment group,20cases were cured,18cases markedly effective,13cases effective,12cases ineffective, the total efficiency of83.61%; while in the control group,12cases were cured,14cases markedly effective,10cases effective,25cases ineffective, the total efficiency of59.02%. Difference between the two groups has statistical significance. The results indicated that the treatment group was superior to control in the aspect of clinical efficacy.4. Symptoms of neck:we utilize scaling forms to evaluate the symptoms of participants with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy. After treatment, the symptoms of neck were improved in both groups, when compared with pre-treatment. And post-treatment, difference between the two groups has statistical significance. The results indicated that the treatment group was superior to control in the aspect of symptoms of neck.Conclusion:1.According to literature research, we found that acupoints on the hand tai-yang small intestine meridian were used most, hand yang-ming large intestine was the second, the foot shao-yang gallbladder was the third, then the foot tai-yang bladder meridian and du meridian. At the same time, the top six acupoint used most were neck jia-ji points (36times), GB20(22times), DU14(22times), SI3(20times), LI4(19times), SJ5(19times). and the distribution of the acupoints were that mostly located on the lower extremities, then the back and neck.2. After treatment, compared with the controlled group, we found that both methods with the ability to relieve the symptoms of patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy.3. After treatment,when compared with the controlled group, we found that the treatment group is superior to the controlled group on MPQ,NDI etc.4. Electro-acupuncture combined with tuina with the ability to improve the intensity of pain, fuction of self management, ability to lift, ability to read, headache, attention, ability to work, ability to drive, sleep, entertainment. Moreover, the treatment group is superior to the controlled group on intensity of pain, fuction of self management, ability to lift, ability to read, headache and ability to drive.5. Electro-acupuncture combined with tuina with the ability to relieve the symptoms of neck and function of hands. Moreover, the treatment group is superior to the controlled group on the symptoms of neck and function of hands.6. We utilize electroacupuncture combined with tuina to treat participants with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy compared with those participants treated with traction therapy, and the results show that electroacupuncture combined with tuina is significantly superior to the traction treatment.