title: [Observation on therapeutic effect of round-sharp needle of new nine-needle and elongated needle for piriformis syndrome with triple puncture method].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy differences between round-sharp needle of new nine-needle and elongated needle for piriformis syndrome, and explore its action mechanism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty cases were randomly divided into a round-sharp needle of new nine-needle group (round-sharp needle group) and an elongated needle treatment group (elongated needle group), 40 cases in each group. The round-sharp needle group was treated with round-sharp needle (0.60 mm x 125 mm) at three points in piriformis with triple puncture method, while the elongated needle group was treated with elongated needle of ordinary specifications (0.32 mm x 125 mm) at three points in piriformis with triple puncture method. Besides, the two groups were also treated with routine acupuncture at Weizhong (BL 40) and Yanglingquan (GB 34), 3 times every week, 2 weeks as one course of treatment. After one course of treatment, the clinical effect was evaluated and the pain threshold values were measured before and after treatment in the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total effective rate in the round-sharp needle group was 92.5% (37/40), which was superior to 77.5% (31/40) in the elongated needle group (P < 0.05). Compared before treatment, the pain threshold values after treatment in two groups were improved significantly (both P < 0.01). The increment of pain threshold value in the round-sharp needle group was higher than that in the elongated needle group (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Round-sharp needle of new nine-needle is effective in treatment of piriformis syndrome and is better than ordinary elongated needle, which is related to that it can effectively increase pain threshold value of the local tissue.
authors.affiliation: College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion, Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hubei University of CM, Wuhan 430061, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wen-Hai
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Jian-Gang
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Hai-Tang
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Feng-Jun
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Song
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles; D055958:Piriformis Muscle Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D011677:Punctures / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult