ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical efficacy of warm acupuncture combined with external application of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of young and middle-aged patients with chronic lumbar muscle strain. MethodsA total of 97 cases of young and middle-aged patients with chronic lumbar muscle strain admitted to our hospital were randomly divided into observation group (48 cases) and control group (49 cases). The control group was given rehabilitation training, including Tai Chi, jogging and waist stretching etc., based on which the observation group was treated with warm acupuncture and external application of traditional Chinese medicine, for a twenty-day treatment course. The clinical efficacy of the two groups was compared. The pain visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry dysfunction index (ODI) and the improvement of symptoms and signs before and after treatment were compared between the two groups. ResultsThe total effective rate of treatment in the observation group (93.75%) was significantly higher than that in the control group (79.59%). The decrease in scores of VAS, ODI, waist tenderness, waist activity and mental temperament in the observation group were more obvious than those in the control group, with statistically significant differences (P＜0.05). ConclusionWarm acupuncture combined with external application of traditional Chinese medicine can effectively improve the symptoms of lumbar pain, TCM symptoms and physical activity functions in young and middle-aged patients with chronic lumbar muscle strain, with significant clinical therapeutic effect.

无