Medical Acupuncture最新文献

Objective: Achilles tendinopathy is a common musculoskeletal condition associated with decreased functionality. The insertional variant (<2cm from the calcaneus) is less responsive to eccentric-exercise therapy. This study looked at the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) + eccentric exercise for treating insertional Achilles tendinopathy.

Materials and methods: Fifty-two active duty and Department of Defense beneficiaries older than 18 years of age with insertional Achilles tendinopathy were randomized to treatment with either eccentric exercise or eccentric exercise with EA. They were evaluated at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 12 weeks. The treatment group received EA treatment in the first 4 visits. The Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Achilles Questionnaire (VISA-A; scored 0-100; higher score = increased function) was used to assess the patients and patient-reported pain (0-10, increasing pain with score) pre- and post-demonstration of the exercises during each visit.

Results: Both the treatment group (53.6% reduction; confidence interval [CI]: 2.1, 3.9; P < 0.001) and the control group (37.5% reduction; CI: 0.4, 2.9; P = 0.023) reported decreased pain between the first and last visit. The treatment group had reduced pain (mean difference [MD] = 1.0; P < 0.01) between pre- and post-eccentric-exercise performance at each visit, while the control group did not (MD = -0.3; P = 0.065). VISA-A scores did not show a difference in functional improvement between the groups (P = 0.296).

Conclusions: EA as an adjunct to eccentric therapy significantly improves short-term pain control for insertional Achilles tendinopathy.

Objective: The goal of this research was to explore how New Zealand midwifery acupuncturists manage mild-to-moderate antenatal anxiety and depression (AAD).

Materials and methods: A survey (Surveymonkey®) on midwives' perceptions of acupuncture for treating AAD was distributed late in 2019 to midwives who completed a Certificate in Midwifery Acupuncture. Data were collected on referrals and on acupuncture and complementary and alternative medicine use for AAD and associated symptoms of concern (SoC), such as low-back and pelvic pain (LBPP), sleep issues, stress, other pain, and pregnancy issues. Descriptive analysis was used to report data.

Results: Of 119 midwives, 66 responded (55.5%). For AAD and SoC, midwives mostly referred patients to general practitioners and counselors, and administered acupuncture themselves. Acupuncture was most accessed for LBPP (n = 38; 70.4%), sleep (n = 31; 57.4%), anxiety (n = 27; 50.0%); stress (n = 26; 48.1%), and other pain (n = 20, 37.0%). Massage was second most-accessed for LBPP (n = 36; 66.7%), sleep (n = 25; 46.3%), and stress (n = 24; 44.4%). For depression, treatments were herbs (n = 16; 29.6%), homeopathy (n = 14; 25.9%), and acupuncture and massage (both n = 13; 24.1%). Acupuncture was most used for other pregnancy issues: birth preparation (n = 44, 88.0%); assisted labor induction (n = 43; 86.0%): nausea and vomiting (n = 43; 86.0%); breech (n = 37; 74.0%); and headaches/migraines (n = 29; 58.0%).

Conclusion: Acupuncture is commonly used by midwife acupuncturists in New Zealand to treat a range of pregnancy issues, including anxiety, SoC for AAD, and other pregnancy issues. Further research would be beneficial.

Background: Threatened abortion, also known as threatened miscarriage, is a common complication in pregnant women; it seriously harms their physical and mental health. However, there are only a few reports on acupuncture treatment to address threatened abortion.

Case: A woman had a threatened abortion. She experienced vaginal bleeding and had an intrauterine hematoma after embryo transfer. She declined medication use because of concerns about the adverse effects to the embryo. Therefore, acupuncture treatment was performed to relieve her pain and save the fetus.

Results: After the 4th treatment, her vaginal bleeding stopped, and her uterine effusion was reduced to 27 × 22 mm. After the 11th treatment, the uterine effusion decreased even more-to 40 × 7 mm-and disappeared completely after the 16th treatment. No adverse events occurred during her treatment, and her bleeding and uterine effusion did not recur. The fetus developed normally, and the child was born. This child is currently healthy and growing.

Conclusions: By stimulating the body's acupoints, acupuncture can be used to adjust the Qi and Blood, and consolidate Extraordinary Vessels, mainly in Chong and Ren, to prevent miscarriage. This case report provided information about the treatment of a threatened abortion and illustrated how acupuncture was be used to stop a threatened abortion. This report can be utilized to support high-quality randomized controlled trials. Given that there is a lack of standardized and safe procedures for treating threatened abortion by using acupuncture, this research is needed.

Background: Auricular acupuncture (AA) is commonly used by acupuncturists as stand-alone therapy or as an adjunctive to body acupuncture. AA is considered to be safe, with rare complications. The most commonly reported complications are usually transient and include: pain at insertion; minor bleeding; local tenderness; dizziness; and nausea. No reported cases of an Aiguille Semi-Permanente^® (ASP^®) needle retained in the external auditory canal (EAC) has been found in the medical literature.

Case: As part of a treatment for complex regional pain syndrome, auricular ASP needles were placed. When the patient returned 6 weeks later for continued treatment, he reported feeling slightly dizzy at times and that he had a sensation that something might be in his ear canal.

Results: This patient appeared to be in his usual good health with normal vital signs. The external ear had no visible ASP needles. An otoscopic examination revealed a yellow reflection from the base of the tympanic membrane (TM), and a gold ASP needle was identified. It was recovered with a normal saline flush of the canal. The TM and EAC were otherwise normal.

Conclusions: In this first report of an ASP needle being "lost" in an EAC, perhaps it may have occurred while the patient slept. The event seems to be rare enough, but acupuncturists should be aware of the possibility, and if patients mention a foreign-body sensation in their ears, hearing unusual sounds, or have persistent discomfort or dizziness, the external auditory canal should be examined.