Observation on clinical effects of acupuncture plus cupping therapy for cervical radiculopathy

Objective: To observe the therapeutic effects of acupuncture plus cupping therapy and Western medication alone for cervical radiculopathy. Methods: A total of 139 patients with cervical radiculopathy were randomly divided based on the random digital table into an acupuncture-cupping group (70 cases) and a Western medication group (69 cases). In the acupuncture-cupping group, Fengchi (GB 20) (bilateral), Dazhui (GV 14), Jianjing (GB 21) (bilateral) and Jiaji (EX-B 2) points of the neck [bilateral, midpoint between Fengchi (GB 20) and Dazhui (GV 14)] were punctured. After the arrival of the needling sensation, bilateral Fengchi (GB 20) and Jianjing (GB 21) were linked with electric stimulation and the rest acupoints were manipulated with the moderate needling technique. In the retaining of the needles, TDP lamp radiation was used. After acupuncture, the cupping therapy was applied to the local area. The treatment was given once every other day, 20 d for a course. After one course, the therapeutic effects were observed. The Western medication group was treated by oral administration of Meloxicam (Mobic), 7.5 mg, once a day, with water and liquid after meal. The therapeutic effects were observed after 20 d. Results: The total effective rate was 92.8% in the acupuncture-cupping group and 73.9% in the Western medication group, with a statistical difference between the two groups (P<0.05). After treatment, the scores of the clinical symptoms of the two groups were obviously declined (P<0.01), and the score of the clinical symptoms of the acupuncture-cupping group was better than that of the Western medication group, with a statistical difference (P<0.05). Conclusion: Acupuncture plus cupping therapy was more effective than administration of Meloxicam tablets alone in the treatment of cervical radiculopathy. © 2016, Shanghai Research Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.