Open-label trial regarding the use of acupuncture and yin tui na in Parkinson's disease outpatients: a pilot study on efficacy, tolerability, and quality of life.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluates the effects of sequential tui na massage, acupuncture, and instrument-delivered qigong for patients with Parkinson disease (PD) over a 6-month period.


METHODS
Patients received weekly treatments, which included tui na massage prior to acupuncture followed by instrument-delivered qigong. Each patient was assessed at baseline and at 6 months.


METHODS
The setting was an outpatient research/academic clinic for patients with PD and nonacademic acupuncture clinic.


METHODS
Twenty-five (25) patients with idiopathic PD were the subjects.


METHODS
Before and after treatment patients were evaluated with the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), Hoehn and Yahr Staging (H&Y), Schwab and England Activities of Daily Living (S & E), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39) quality of life assessment, and patient global assessments.


RESULTS
There were no significant improvements in treatment measures; however, there was a 2.4-point worsening in UPDRS motor scores (24.0 versus 26.4, p = 0.018). There was a 16% improvement in the PDQ- 39 total score (23.2 versus 19.6, p = 0.044) and a 29% improvement in the BDI (9.6 versus 6.8, p = 0.006). Sixteen (16) patients reported moderate to marked improvement. There were no adverse effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Acupuncture is safe and well tolerated in patients with PD. Most patients reported subjective improvement. The BDI and PDQ-39 total score, measuring depression and quality of life, demonstrated some improvement, but UPDRS motor scores worsened.
Eng
Marty L
ML
University of Kansas Medical Center, University of Kansas, School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Kansas City, KS 66160-7231, USA. meng@kumc.edu
Lyons
Kelly E
KE
Greene
Michael S
MS
Pahwa
Rajesh
R
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000368:Aged; D001945:Breathing Exercises; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome