[Efficacy observation on wrist-ankle needle for primary dysmenorrhea in undergraduates].
OBJECTIVE
To compare efficacy difference among wrist-ankle needle, body-acupuncture and ibuprofen in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea.


METHODS
Ninety-five cases were randomly divided into a wrist-ankle needle group (32 cases), a body-acupuncture group (31 cases) and an ibuprofen group (32 cases). Acupunc- , ture at Lower 1 and Lower 2 area was applied in the wrist-ankle needle group. Acupuncture at Guanyuan (CV 4) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) were applied in the body-acupuncture group. Ibuprofen sustained-release capsules were given for oral administration in the ibuprofen group. The treatment began 3 days before menses, once a day, until pain was relieved. One menstrual cycle was taken as a treatment course, continuously for 3 courses and efficacy were observed in three groups. The symptom score of dysmenorrhea and visual analogue scale (VAS) were used to assess pain severity before and after treatment.


RESULTS
1The efficacy differences in three groups were statistically significant (P<0.01), in which the total effective rate was 90. 0% (27/30) in the wrist-ankle needle group, 73.4% (22/30) in the body-acupuncture group and 46. 7% (14/30) in the ibuprofen group. 2 After the treatment, symptom score of dysmenorrhea and VAS were all obviously lower than that before the treatment in three groups (all P<0.01). Compared with ibuprofen group (7.12+/-2.70), after the treatment symptom score of dysmenorrhea in the wrist-ankle needle group (4.00+/-3.40) and body-acupuncture group (5. 53+/-2. 80) was obviously decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05), and VAS in the wrist-ankle needle group was significantly reduced (P<0.05). Compared with body-acupuncture group (5. 53+/-2.80), symptom score of dysmenorrhea in the wrist-ankle needle group (4.00+/- 3. 40) was obviously decreased (P<0. 05).


CONCLUSIONS
The wrist-ankle needle has better effect than body acupuncture and ibuprofen on the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea, which could significantly improve dysmenorrhea symptoms.
College of TCM, Hebei United University, Tangshan 063000, China.
Hong-Bin
HB
Wang
College of TCM, Hebei United University, Tangshan 063000, China.
Shu
S
Zhao
College of TCM, Hebei United University, Tangshan 063000, China.
Na
N
Sun
College of TCM, Hebei United University, Tangshan 063000, China.
Xue-Qing
XQ
Li
College of TCM, Hebei United University, Tangshan 063000, China.
Shu-Xiang
SX
Ma
College of TCM, Hebei United University, Tangshan 063000, China.
Qi
Q
Li
College of TCM, Hebei United University, Tangshan 063000, China.
Jian-Mei
JM
Cui
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010147:Pain Measurement; D013334:Students; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult