"Acupuncture works" article

[neurospast]

the writer of the article seems to drive home the point that people got better when needles were stuck into patients' backs... though i love the fact that it's really just the placebo affect in action here... i think the article really brings to light people's lack of faith in western medicine and their belief that alternative methods really heal them...
i had one lady who was a 1 year-out victim of a stroke-- she had less than 90 degrees of painful shoulder AROM flexion upon eval- but 2 months later had 160 degrees of painfree AROM... she told me she attributed it to the acupuncture... of course, she's technically brain-injured so i politely pointed out all the range-of-motion, stretching, and functional activities we had done and how they had affected her recovery... but i think that illustrates my point...
i'd love to actually read this study because it seems they may not be able to compare it to physical therapy-- just "western medicine" wherein they lumped heat packs, analgesics, stretching, and PT all in one...

i think this study may really debunk the efficacy of the basis of acupuncture... either that or we should all start randomly sticking needles in our patients...


Quote: the article brings to light the lack of faith in western medicine;
Dear me, I thought that Western medicine was based on evidence and not on faith so placebo effects should have no influence on treatment effects what so ever when western medicine is used or am I mistaken something (in research is tried to illiminate variables we cannot control)?
How are you so shure, Gawaine that even treating a stroke has nothing to do with placebo? e.g. I dare to say that the patient's psychological state is most important for recovery after a stroke; one of my patient's had a complete set back after going home for christmas and been looked after by her family who were unable to cope with her condition. another example; a stroke patient was over a year in a hospital but had only little recovery( not able to walk) until another therapist took over and the man could return home within 3 months and live on his own using a tripod.
Placebo or not, do not underestimate the power of the midbrain.
If people have lost their faith (I would prefer to call it trust) in western medicine, western medicine should ask itself why, what are we doing wrong what eastern medicine apparently does right (maybe just understanding that when you treat physical you also treat mental and visa versa?)
By the way, research has shown that placebo even works if people are aware of it being used(think of a pleasant feeling and you will feel less pain).And deep needling has shown to have effect on neurotransmitters.
Unfortunately the link you, Gawaine, provided did not give me access to the full research. so for example which group of backpatients were used? Low back pain has been in every research a pain in the back (or neck?).
Cheers

[FysIQ]

. Unfortunately the link you, Gawaine, provided did not give me access to the full research.

Here is the full article the knee study included:Acupuncture for the Treatment
of Chronic Knee and Back Pain

[FysIQ]

Unfortunately the link you, Gawaine, provided did not give me access to the full research.

Here is the full article, knee study included: Acupuncture for the Treatment
of Chronic Knee and Back Pain

[junior_physiotherapist]

Hallo All,


Actually I want here to share your experiences with clinical based evidence to shade some lights regarding which is better to use for diapetic patinets Acupuncture or Cupping?


Appreciated,

Thanks.:rolleyes: