[Randomized controlled trails for "equilibrium-acupuncture" treatment of lumbar pain in patients with lumbar intervertebral disc prolapse].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of "equilibrium-acupuncture" intervention on lumbar pain in lumbar intervertebral disc prolapse patients. METHODS: A total of 287 patients with lumbar intervertebral disc prolapse syndrome were randomly assigned to equilibrium acupuncture group (n = 143) and routine acupuncture group (n = 144) using SAS (Statistical Analysis System) Software. Patients of the equilibrium acupuncture group were treated by acupuncture stimulation of bilateral "Yaotong" point (at the middle site of the forehead) and those of the routine acupuncture group treated by acupuncture stimulation of Ashi-points, Weizhong (BL 40), Jiaji (EX-B 2), Shenshu (BL 23), etc. The treatment was conducted once daily for 20 days, then, 3 months' follow-up was given. Pain scores including pain rating index (PRI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) were given to the patients before and after the treatment using Chinese version of Short-Form of McGill Pain Questionnaire. Present pain intensity (PPI) was evaluated after the treatment. RESULTS: Before the treatment, no significant differences were found between the equilibrium acupuncture group and the routine acupuncture group in PRI and VAS scores (P > 0.05). Following the treatment, the pain symptom was apparently improved in both groups, and the rates of pain improvement (including excellent, good and moderate improvement rates) of the equilibrium acupuncture group were significantly higher than those of the routine acupuncture group from the 1st to the 4th treatment sessions, in the 20th treatment session and the 2nd follow-up (P < 0.05); and the PRI and VAS scores of the equilibrium acupuncture group were significantly lower than those of the routine acupuncture group after the 18th and 20th sessions of treatment and the 3 months' follow-up (P < 0.05). The cases and percentages of patients without pain (PPI rating) were significantly more in the equilibrium acupuncture group than in the routine acupuncture group in the 18th and 20th treatment sessions and the 2nd follow-up (P < 0.05). The "equilibrium-acupuncture" is relatively superior to routine acupuncture in the instant effect and long-term effect. CONCLUSION: "Equilibrium-acupuncture" has a faster and stable long-term analgesic effect for lumbar intervertebral disc prolapse patients.