Li Tian, Wang Siyao, Cheng Ke, Sun Lu, Jin Daopeng, Zhang Shen, Yang Zhen, Huang Zouqin
Shanghai Pudong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Integr Med Res. 2022 Mar;11(1):100748. doi: 10.1016/j.imr.2021.100748. Epub 2021 May 26.
Warm acupuncture, a combination of the mechanical stimulation of acupuncture and thermal stimulation of moxibustion, is commonly used in treating acute low back pain (LBP). This trial aimed to compare the efficacy of stronger (above 43°C) and weaker (above 40°C) heat stimulation in warm acupuncture on the function and pain in patients with acute LBP due to lumbosacral disc degeneration (LDD).
One hundred and fifty-nine adults were randomly assigned to receive warm acupuncture treatment with silver needle (SvN) or with stainless steel needle (SSN) (1:1). Both groups received a 3-week therapy with 3 sessions per week. The primary outcome was the modified Oswestry Disability Index at week 4. The secondary outcomes included average pain, three physical sign tests and adverse events. Participants were followed up at week 16 and week 28 after randomization.
The LBP related disability and pain intensity significantly relieved more in the SvN warm acupuncture group than in the SSN group, in both the short and long term (<0.001). The between-groups difference in physical signs showed statistical significance only in the short term ( = 0.024), but not in long term ( = 0.081; = 0.069).
Compared with warm acupuncture with stainless-steel needle at above 40°C, warm acupuncture with silver needle at above 43°C relieved more disability and pain in patients with acute LBP due to LDD.
Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR1800019051).
温针灸是针刺的机械刺激与艾灸的热刺激相结合的疗法，常用于治疗急性腰痛（LBP）。本试验旨在比较温针灸中较强热刺激（43°C以上）与较弱热刺激（40°C以上）对因腰骶椎间盘退变（LDD）导致的急性LBP患者功能和疼痛的疗效。
159名成年人被随机分配接受银针温针灸（SvN）或不锈钢针温针灸（SSN）治疗（1:1）。两组均接受为期3周的治疗，每周3次。主要结局指标为第4周时的改良Oswestry功能障碍指数。次要结局指标包括平均疼痛程度、三项体征检查及不良事件。随机分组后，在第16周和第28周对参与者进行随访。
短期和长期来看，SvN温针灸组的LBP相关功能障碍和疼痛强度缓解程度均显著高于SSN组（<0.001）。两组体征的组间差异仅在短期内具有统计学意义（ = 0.024），长期则无统计学意义（ = 0.081； = 0.069）。
与40°C以上不锈钢针温针灸相比，43°C以上银针温针灸能更有效地缓解因LDD导致的急性LBP患者的功能障碍和疼痛。
中国临床试验注册中心（ChiCTR180001905）
