Effect of stimulating acupoint Guanyuan (CV 4) on lower back pain by burning moxa heat for different time lengths: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Xu, J.

Lin, R.

Wu, Y.

Wang, Y.

Liu, J.

Zhang, Y.

Xi, C.

Wu, Q.

Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine = Chung i tsa Chih Ying wen pan / Sponsored by All-China Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine

2015

35(1)

36-40

RCT

RCT (1265)

Acu Versus CAM Control

Acupuncture

Moxa

Moxibustion

Low Back Pain

Non-specific low back pain

Musculoskeletal Diseases

Musculoskeletal Pain

Back Pain

TCM Acupunture Style

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of different heat-stimulating time lengths on lower back pain. METHODS: Forty participants were randomly assigned to four groups of various heating time lengths. The short heating time length group (SL), moderate heating time length group (ML), and long heating time length group (LL) respectively received 15, 30, and 60 min of moxibustion therapy stimulating the acupoint Guanyuan (CV 4). The conventional acupuncture group (CA) received needle acupuncture treatment as a control group. The participants were treated continuously over a 2-week treatment period for a total of 10 sessions, with five sessions given per week. Participants were assessed weekly by blinded assessors,using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and Roland Morris Questionnaire (RMQ). RESULTS: The VAS and RMQ scores reduced in all four groups during treatment. There were significant differences in VAS scores (P < 0.01) and RMQ scores (P < 0.01) between before treatment and after 2 weeks of treatment in the LL group. After treatment, the LL group reported significantly lower VAS scores compared with the CA group, ML group, and SL group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The long and moderate lengths of heat-stimulating time of 30 and 60 min may be more effective for relieving lower back pain than that of short stimulating time lengths.

PMID:25842726

English

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