title: [Needle warming therapy for the treatment of syndrome of the transverse process of the third lumbar vertebra].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the curative effects of three methods for the treatment of the third lumbar vertebrae syndrome, the treatment methods including needle warming therapy, electroacupuncture and body acupuncture treatments.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2007 to 2009,120 patients were divided into three groups randomly: needle warming therapy group, electroacupuncture treatment group and body acupuncture treatment group. Among 40 patients in the needle warming therapy group, 23 patients were male and 17 patients were female; the average age was (34.2 +/- 6.7) years; and the mean during of disease was (14.3 +/- 4.6) months; the patients were treated with warm needle at the third lumbar vertebrae. Among 40 patients in electroacupuncture treatment group, 26 patients were male and 14 patients were female; the average age was (35.1 +/- 7.1) years; and the mean during of disease was (15.6 +/- 4.9) months; the patients were treated with electric acupuncture at the third lumbar vertebrae. Among 40 patients in body acupuncture treatment group, 23 patients were male and 17 patients were female; the average age was (35.7 +/- 6.5) years; and the mean during of disease was(15.2 +/- 5.1) months; the patients were treated with body acupuncture at the third lumbar vertebrae. The safety, efficacy including the recovery rate and the tenderness index and compliances of the treatments were observed, and the VAS scores were used to evaluate the therapeutic effects. The healed patients were followed up ranged from 3 to 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the needle warming therapy group, 32 patients got an excellent result, 8 good and 0 bad; in electroacupuncture treatment group, above data were 22,15 and 3; and in body acupuncture treatment group, the data were 18,16 and 6. The therapeutic effects of needle warming therapy was better than that of electroacupuncture or body acupuncture treatment. The VAS scores of the needle warming therapy group, electroacupuncture treatment group and body acupuncture treatment group were (1.78 +/- 0.99), (3.54 +/- 1.03) and (3.62 +/- 0.72) separately, and the score of the needle warming therapy group was lower than that of electroacupuncture treatment group or body acupuncture treatment group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The needle warming therapy for the treatment of the third lumbar vertebrae syndrome has follow advantages: simple operation, effective and safe, lower recurrence rate, which is worth of using widely.
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture, TCM Hospital of Zhejiang, Hangzhou 310006, Zhejiang, China. xufu36@126.com
authors.forename: Fu
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D013577:Syndrome