Background:
The overall incidence of postneuraxial block backache: 9%-50% (Yeh et al., 2009). The incidence of back pain on the third postoperative day after spinal anesthesia: 5.91%-22%.
Methods:
Collateral meridian acupressure therapy (CMAT) manipulates distant collateral meridians for pain relief while avoiding the stimulation of the affected region/meridian (Yeh et al., 2009).
Points used in CMAT:
C-point (the “control point”): “The point that connects a diseased meridian to a distant collateral meridian.”
F-point (the “functional point”): “The acupressure point corresponding to the painful region.” Frequency: 60/min for one minute.
Constant force: 4 dynes/kg.
Pressure: At the C and F-points, to cause mild to moderate achy pain.
Course: Twice per day for three days.
Clinical trial records:
5 patients with postneuraxial block backache after regional anesthesia or analgesia.
Control:
Results from conventional treatments including bed rest, cold/warm packing, physical therapy, and medications with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), strong analgesics, and opioids: the back pain remained, NSAIDs or opioids may have adverse effects.
Effects:
A new acupressure technique, collateral meridian acupressure therapy (CMAT), may be effective to for back pain relief.
Reference and data source:
Yeh, C. C., Wu, C. T., et al. (2009) Collateral meridian acupressure therapy effectively relieves postregional anesthesia/analgesia backache. South Med J 102, 1179-1182.
Many complementary therapeutic methods have been applied by patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Researchers in Germany examined the immediate and sustained effects of Qigong on motor and nonmotor symptoms of PD (Schmitz-Hubsch et al., 2006). A total of 56 patients with different levels of PD disease severity were involved in the study.
The researchers compared the Qigong treatment group and a control group about the progression of motor symptoms assessed using Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale motor part (UPDRS-III). The Qigong group had trainings of 90-minute weekly for 2 months, followed by a 2 months break, then a second 2-month training period. The study found that at 3 and 6 months, more patients improved in the Qigong group than in the control group. In addition, the incidence of several nonmotor symptoms reduced in the Qigong group only.
This study indicates that Qigong exercise may be helpful for relieving PD. More studies are still needed to confirm this effect and to find out the mechanisms.
Reference:
Schmitz-Hubsch, T., Pyfer, D., et al. (2006) Qigong exercise for the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease: a randomized, controlled pilot study. Mov Disord 21, 543-548.
Researchers in Hong Kong conducted a randomized controlled trial to investigate the psychosocial effects of Qigong on elderly with depression (Tsang et al., 2006). A total of 82 participants with depression or obvious features of depression were involved in the study. The intervention group had Qigong practice for 16 weeks. The comparison group joined a newspaper reading group with the same duration and frequency.
The study found that after 8 weeks of Qigong practice, the intervention group participants had significant improvement in mood, self-efficacy and personal well being, and physical and social domains of self-concept, in comparison with the control group. After 16 weeks of practice, the improvement of the Qigong group included the daily task domain of the self-concept.
These findings indicate that regular Qigong practice can relieve depression and benefit self-efficacy and personal well being in elderly patients with chronic illness and depression. Further studies are needed to confirm the result and find out the mechanisms.
Reference:
Tsang, H. W., Fung, K. M., et al. (2006) Effect of a qigong exercise programme on elderly with depression. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 21, 890-897.
