Abstract

BOCH VALDES, Fe; RABI MARTINEZ, María del Carmen; HERNANDEZ ARTEAGA, Manuel  and  GARCIA JACOMINO, José C. Acupuntura y electroacupuntura en el alivio del dolor de la osteoartrosis de la región lumbar. Rev Cubana Med Gen Integr [online]. 2001, vol.17, n.2, pp. 143-148. ISSN 1561-3038.

Osteoarthritis in the lumbar region is a significant cause of pain or physical disability. The different therapies applied are not always effective and the drugs used may cause undesirable reactions. Its treatment has experienced a trend towards more conservative methods and the use of acupuncture and electroacupuncture has increased in recent years. In the present study, their effectiveness is compared, since in the reviewed literature there are controversial criteria about the superiority of one of them. A total of 1 658 patients who received attention at the Pain Clinic with this diagnosis were studied. Acupuncture or electroacupuncture were indicated by using the same points (bladder meridians, gall bladder, painful points and extrameridian points, corresponding to segmentary innervation). There was only a variation in the electrical stimulus. Patients were evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS). Both methods were effective in our study. The response to treatment was faster and more effective in electroacupuncture. There were no adverse reactions

Keywords : LOW BACK PAIN [/therapy]; OSTEOARTHRITIS [/therapy]; ACUPUNCTURE THERAPY; ELECTROACUPUNCTURE.

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