The journal of alternative and complementary medicine : research on paradigm, practice, and policy
-
J Altern Complement Med · Nov 2008
Chinese acupuncture for chronic low back pain: an international expert survey.
Chinese acupuncture is widely accepted in western countries, and a number of clinical trials are testing Chinese acupuncture, especially for chronic low back pain (cLBP). However, little is known about how practitioners perform acupuncture treatment in daily clinical work and whether treatment styles differ among practitioners and countries. ⋯ For the first time it has been shown that there is a broad consistency in fundamental aspects of Chinese acupuncture for cLBP across different kinds of practitioners and different countries. These data can be used as minimal standards for the design and funding of future clinical trials.
-
J Altern Complement Med · Oct 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialEffects of acupuncture on symptoms and muscle function in delayed-onset muscle soreness.
This study was done to investigate the effects of a standardized acupuncture treatment on symptoms and muscle function in exercise-induced delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS). ⋯ Although acupuncture seemed to have no effects on mechanical pain threshold and muscle function, it proved to reduce perceived pain arising from exercise-induced muscle soreness.
-
J Altern Complement Med · Oct 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialSix weeks of whole-body vibration exercise improves pain and fatigue in women with fibromyalgia.
The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a 6-week traditional exercise program with supplementary whole-body vibration (WBV) in improving health status, physical functioning, and main symptoms of fibromyalgia (FM) in women with FM. ⋯ Results suggest that a 6-week traditional exercise program with supplementary WBV safely reduces pain and fatigue, whereas exercise alone fails to induce improvements.
-
J Altern Complement Med · Sep 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialEffects of myofascial induction techniques on physiologic and psychologic parameters: a randomized controlled trial.
The objective was to determine the effect of myofascial techniques on the modulation of physiologic and psychologic variables. ⋯ Psychologic modulation is observed after application of manual therapy techniques, with a decrease in state anxiety in the experimental group. Heart rate and systolic BP were modulated during the course of myofascial induction techniques. All of these effects were observed up to 20 minutes after the therapy.
-
J Altern Complement Med · Sep 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialThe effect of patient-selected music on early postoperative pain, anxiety, and hemodynamic profile in cesarean section surgery.
After cesarean section surgery, routine pharmacologic methods of analgesia--opioids and benzodiazepines--may impair the immediate close contact of mother and neonate for their sedative and emetic effects. ⋯ Postoperative use of patient-selected music in cesarean section surgery would alleviate the pain and reduce the need for other analgesics, thus improving the recovery and early contact of mothers with their children.