[Controlled study on needle-pricking therapy combined with spinal massage for treatment of ankylosing spondylitis].
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.
Chen
Dong
D
Department of New Medicine and Needle Pricking, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, China. drchendong@yahoo.com.cn
Luo
Liang-ping
LP
Hong
Yan-bo
YB
Chen
Da-dian
DD
Cai
Ming-xue
MX
Guo
Feng-lian
FL
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*