title: [Efficacy observation on chrondromalacia patellae treated with fire needling technique at high stress points].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the clinical efficacy differences between fire needling technique of filiform needle at high stress points and regular acupuncture on chrondromalacia patellae so as to provide the better therapy for the treatment of this disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty cases of chrondromalacia patellae were randomized into a fire needling group (28 cases) and a routine acupuncture group (32 cases). In the fire needling group, 5 to 6 high stress points were localized according to the symptoms, palpation and imaging condition and were stimulated with fire needling technique of filiform needle. The treatment was given once every two days, 5 treatments made one session. In the routine acupuncture group, the regular acupuncture was applied at Dubi (ST 35), Xiguan (LR 7), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Zusanli (ST 36), etc. The treatment was given once every day, 5 treatments made one session. Lysholm score, VSA score, patella title angle (PTA) and lateral patella angle (LPA) of the affected knees before and after treatment, as well as the clinical efficacy after treatment were observed in the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After treatment, Lysholm score, VSA score, PTA and LPA were all improved apparently in the two groups (all P < 0.01). After the treatments, the improvements in Lysholm score, VSA score, PTA and LPA in the fire needling group were more obvious than those in the routine acupuncture group (all P < 0.05). The effective rate was 92.9% (26/28) in the fire needling group, better than 87.5% (28/32) in the routine acupuncture group (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The fire needling technique of filiform needle at the high stress points relieves the clinical symptoms of chrondromalacia patellae and recovers the biodynamical structure of patellae.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Bi-Dan
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.forename: Chao-Jian
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Zhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Ai
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D000328:Adult; D046789:Chondromalacia Patellae / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult