[Clinical observation on auricular point magnetotherapy for treatment of senile low back pain].
OBJECTIVE
To compare the therapeutic effects of auricular point magnetotherapy and auricular point sticking of Vaccaria seed on senile low back pain.


METHODS
Sixty cases, aged 60 or over 60 years with back pain, were randomly divided into 2 groups, a control group and a test group. The control group were treated with auricular sticking of Vaccaria seed with no pressing, and the test group with sticking magnetic bead of 66 gauss each piece with no pressing. Auricular points, Shenmen, Kidney, Bladder, Yaodizhui, Gluteus, Liver and Spleen were selected. Three weeks constituted one course. The effects before, during and after the course were assessed by questionnaire about back pain.


RESULTS
Compared with the control group, in the test group the back pain was more effectively improved, including reducing pain and numbness in the back and the legs, decreasing the disorder of physical strength induced by this disease, and improving daily life quality of the patient. Follow-up survey for 2-4 weeks showed the effects still were kept.


CONCLUSIONS
Auricular magnetotherapy can effectively improve senile back pain.
Sun
Gui-Ping
GP
Lornasuen College of Nursing, Hongkong Chinese University, China. lornasuen@cuhk.edu.hk
D020831:Acupuncture, Ear / Q000379:methods*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D008280:Magnetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male