OBJECTIVE
To compare the clinical therapeutic effect of long-snake moxibustion and ginger-partitioned moxibustion at ashi point on nonspecific low back pain (NLBP) with symptom of cold and dampness.
METHODS
A total of 120 patients were randomized into a long-snake moxibustion group, an ashi point group and a waiting for treatment group, 40 cases in each one. Ginger-partitioned moxibustion was applied from Dazhui (GV 14) to Yaoshu (GV 2) of governor vessel in the long-snake moxibustion group, and was applied at ashi point of affected area in the ashi point group, 40 min each time, once every other day and totally 8 times were required. No intervention was adopted in the waiting for treatment group, and after the trial, long-snake moxibustion was applied. Before and after treatment, the visual analogue scale (VAS) scores of rest and activity, the Oswestry disability index (ODI) score and the score of cold and dampness symptom were observed in the 3 groups.
RESULTS
Compared before treatment, the VAS scores of rest and activity, the ODI scores and the scores of cold and dampness symptom after treatment were decreased in the long-snake moxibustion group and the ashi point group (P<0.05). After treatment, the variations of the above indexes in the long-snake moxibustion group and the ashi point group were larger than those in the waiting for treatment group (P<0.05), and the variations of the above indexes in the long-snake moxibustion group were larger than those in the ashi point group (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION
Long-snake moxibustion can effectively improve the pain, dysfunction and the symptom of cold and dampness in patients with nonspecific low back pain, and the improvement is superior to the ginger-partitioned moxibustion at ashi point.