Clinical Study On The Change Of Nerve Conduction Velocity In Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Patients Treated With Taijiquan Tuina Combined Therapy

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of Tuina combined with Taijiquan in the prevention and treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and discuss its mechanism through conducting clinical randomized controlled trial.Method:Sixty inpatient/outpatient diabetic patients were recruited from the First and Third Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Chinese Medicine and Fourth People’s Hospital of Sichuan province and randomly assigned either western medicine group or Tuina combined with Taijiquan group. Patients in the western medicine took Mecobalamin Tablets while patients in the Tuina/Taijiquan group received Tuina treatment and had Taijiquan practise sessions. Patients in both group were allowed to continue original medical prescription prior to entering trial. The motor/sensory conduction velocity of the left peroneal nerve and median nerve were measured before treatment and 2 months after trial initiation to evaluate the effects of different methods on conduction velocity.Results:1.Baseline comparision:1) Patients in both group were similar in gender distribution and age (P>0.05);2) Patients in both group had simliar blood glucose level prior to trial (P>0.05);3) Patients in both group had simliar nerve conduction velocity prior to trial (P>0.05).2.Efficacy Assessment:1) No Statistically significant difference between sensory and motor nerve conduction velocity between the two groups prior to treatment (P>0.05);No Statistically significant difference between sensory and motor nerve conduction velocity between peroneal and median nerve in both groups (P>0.05).2) Statistically significant difference between sensory and motor nerve conduction of left peroneal nerve before and after treatment in the Tuina/Tajiquan group (P<0.05);Statistically significant difference between sensory and motor nerve conduction of left median nerve before and after treatment in the Tuina/Tajiquan group (P<0.05);Statistically significant difference between sensory and motor nerve conduction of left peroneal nerve before and after treatment in the western medicine group (P<0.05);Statistically significant difference between sensory and motor nerve conduction of left median nerve before and after treatment in the western medicine group (P<0.05);3) Sensory and motor conduction velocity of the left peroneal nerve improved significantly in the Tuina/Tajiquan group compared to the western medicine group (P<0.05);4) Sensory and motor conduction velocity of the left median nerve improved significantly in the Tuina/Tajiquan group compared to the western medicine group (P<0.05).Conclusion:1) Tuina combined with Taijiquan and Mecobalamin medication both can improve the sensory and motor nerve conduction velocity of the left peroneal/median nerve of DPN patients.2). Massage combined with Taijiquan had a significantly greater effect in improving left peroneal/median nerve conduction velocity of DPN patients compared to Mecobalamin tablets.3). Massage combined with Taijiquan significantly improves nerve conduction in DPN patients, with some patients achieving full recovery.