title: [Controlled study on needle-pricking therapy combined with spinal massage for treatment of ankylosing spondylitis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the therapeutic effect of needle-pricking therapy combined with spinal massage on ankylosing spondylitis and to probe into the mechanism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-three cases who were definitely diagnosed as having ankylosing spondylitis at active stage were randomly divided into a medication group (n=46) and an observation group (n=47). The observation group were treated by needle-pricking the main points, Neck No. 2 nerve, Neck No. 5 nerve point, etc., combined with spinal rotation massage, and the medication group were treated with Azulfidine. Changes of cumulative score of arthralgia and arthroncus, function of joint, Keitel test, and ESR and CRP before and after treatment were observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The effective rate and the markedly effective rate were 95.8%0 and 68.1% in the observation group and 78.3% and 23.9% in the medication group, respectively, the former being significantly better than the latter (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Needle-pricking therapy combined with spinal massage has a significant therapeutic effect with a steady and long-term effect for treatment of ankylosing spondylitis at active stage.
authors.affiliation: Department of New Medicine and Needle Pricking, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, China. drchendong@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Liang-ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Yan-bo
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Da-dian
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ming-xue
authors.initials: MX
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Feng-lian
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D013131:Spine; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000628:therapy*