[Electroacupuncture in combination with rehabilitation for treatment of motor impairment after elbow operation].
OBJECTIVE
To compare the clinical effect on motor impairment after elbow operation between electroacupuncture combined with rehabilitation and rehabilitation training.


METHODS
Fifty-three cases were randomized into an electroacupuncture combined with rehabilitation group (group A, 30 cases) and a rehabilitation group (group B, 23 cases). In group A, electroacupuncture was applied on the stiff region of the elbow and Sanjian (LI 3), Shousanli (LI 10), Hegu (LI 4), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Yinlingquan (SP 9) as adjunctive acupoints. Additionally, the passive movement was followed in the elbow joint after needles removed. In group B, the constant passive movement exercise was applied. The therapeutic effect was observed after 1.5 months of treatment. Mayo Elbow Performance Score (Mayo) and range of motion (ROM) were analyzed statistically after treatment in two groups.


RESULTS
Mayo score and elbow ROM were all improved significantly after treatment in two groups (all P < 0.01). Compared with group B after treatment, the total Mayo score, joint motion range and ability as well as elbow ROM were all improved much apparently in group A (all P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with rehabilitation therapy, electroacupuncture in combination of rehabilitation training can achieve much significant effect on the motion function recovery of elbow joint after fracture operation.
Luo
Kai-Min
KM
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Hospital of Tangshan City, Tangshan 063000, China. tstslkm@163.com
Hou
Zhi
Z
Bu
Ai-Xian
AX
Yang
Lin
L
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult