Acupuncture and sciatica in the acute phase. Double-blind study of 30 cases
Duplan, B.; Cabanel, G.; Piton, J.L.; Grauer, J.L.; Phelip, X.
La Semaine des Hopitaux Organe Fonde Par l'Association d'Enseignement Medical des Hopitaux de Paris 59(45): 3109-3114
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0037-1777 PMID: 6320400 Document Number: 220802
Responses to acupuncture were studied in 30 patients with acute sciatica. Objective and subjective criteria were analyzed before treatment and after five sessions of acupuncture. The study was double blind. Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups: 15 were treated on electrically detected points and 15 on "placebo" points. In the "placebo" group, no significant improvement was recorded. Conversely, in the treated group, study of objective criteria showed improvement of the Lasegue sign. Among subjective symptoms, positive responses were recorded in the duration of improvement, degree of improvement in decubitus and after ten minutes standing, and use of analgesics. Compared to the "placebo" group these changes are statistically significant.