"Acupuncture works" article

[Gawaine]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/condi...ef=mpstoryview


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...


patrick, MPT

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[salsaqueen99]

I am not surprised with this article at all. In fact I am a strong believer in eastern medicine and acupuncture because it has helped me a great deal. I have an unstable shoulder which causes inflammation in the long biceps head with certain movements and acupuncture has been the only treatment which has been able to keep this inflammation under control.

I believe that it works better than some western treatments, like cortisone injections and it is less invasive. I have found that with the complexity of shoulders, western medicine can not always offer me the answers and I still seem to be able to baffle sports physicians as to what I have done to my shoulder. I'm not saying that I have no faith in western medicine, but I believe that a holistic approach to rehabilitation is needed especially when dealing with sports injuries.

[FysIQ]

As a physiotherapist I have been doing acupuncture for seven years now. It has become probably the most important treatment method I use.

I have found that it is not necessary to obey the rules of chinese medicine. Very simply done electroacupuncture works best. In the short run real acupuncture points and manual/electrical needle simulation gives better pain relief, but in the long run simply inserting the needles is enough to stimulate the healing process.

So I am not surprised by the study findings. However, by no means is it possible to just explain all the scientific and clinical evidence of effectiviness to the plasebo effect. Even the strictest meta analysis are starting to be positive. Actually in most indications acupuncture has stronger evidence than manual therapy.

[Canuck Physio]

Although I have no experience in Acupuncture, I feel that we should really apply the literature to the subject.

Whether acupuncture works or not is not the real question, rather we should be asking if it works, what applications does it have.

The following article shows that in fact Acupuncture appears to have 'real' value for certain conditions.

Emmons, Sandra L., Otto, Lesley
Acupuncture for Overactive Bladder: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Obstet Gynecol 2005 106: 138-143

Elucidating what these conditions are, and what patient populations will benefit most from acupuncture gives rise to real meaning of its application in physiotherapy practice.

Hopefully more studies will continue to show us that in fact the methods that physiotherapists currently use are indeed useful.

Regards

[FysIQ]

I think in manual therapy the emphasis is to much on mechanical factors. Since I have been doing acupucture I have realized that joint hypo-/hypermobility is usually the effect not the reason. I also use manual and exercise therapy, but acupuncture is often the method that opens up the way to healing and makes these other methods easier to apply or unneeded.

Aside from the pain relief, acupuncture works by affecting the patological process itself and it is possible to either increase or decrease the inflammation. The first is needed in chronic conditions, the latter in acute.

I strongly suggest anybody interested in acupuncture to really do the homework, find the ever increasing scientific evidence and give acupuncture chance. It could change your clinical practise forever.

It irritates me that people so easily accept Maitland, Mulligan etc. and are at the same time overly skeptical about acupuncture. If I had to choose between joint manipulation, which I have been doing for 10 years, and acupuncture, I would choose acupuncture any day.

[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: