Clinical Observation Of Piriformis Syndrome With Warm Acupuncture And Electro-acupuncture

Objective: Observing the difference between warm acupuncture and electroacupuncture needles in the treatment of Piriformis syndrome, to provide new methods of disease treatment.Method: The 50 patients, which met the inclusion criteria, were randomly divided into two groups of 25 warm needles and EA needles. Routine acupuncture points- Ashi, Huantiao, Juliao, Weizhong, Yanglingquan, Kunlun which were used on all patients. In the warm-needle group, acupuncture points-Ashi, Huantiao were given a temperature raise while the EA group, Ashi, Huantiao were treated with the EA. Both groups were treated every other day for 40 days with every 10 times as one course of treatment. Between two courses, patients were given a rest period of 2-3 days. Evaluation of the two groups were done to record the Visual Analogue Scale of the piriformis syndrome pain and the scores of the clinical symptoms and signs both before and after the treatment.Results: 1.Both warm-needle group and EA group have positive results, the warm-needle group has a total effective rate of 96% while the EA group has a total effective rate of 88% and there is a significant difference between the two groups(P<0.05). 2. Visual Analogue Scale, VAS: For both Warm-needle and EA group, there is significant statistical evidence(P<0.05) suggesting that there is positive improvement before and after treatment. Comparing the after treatment results of the two groups, there is significant statistical evidence(P<0.05) suggesting that the warm-needle group is more effective. 3. Clinical symptoms and signs scores: For both Warm-needle and EA group, there is significant statistical evidence(P<0.05) suggesting that there is positive improvement before and after treatment. Comparing the after treatment results of the two groups, there is significant statistical evidence(P<0.05) suggesting that the warm-needle group has a larger significant benefit on patients.Conclusion: Both warm-needle group and EA group achieved positive results in treating the pain of Piriformis syndrome and relieving the clinical symptoms of this disease. However, the warm-needle group had a more positive effect on the patients when compared to the EA group.