Clinical study of manipulation of Bojin-Guicao combined with external application of Chinese medicine for the lateral epicondylitis

Objectives In order to evaluate the clinical effect of manipulation combined with traditional Chinese medicine for the lateral epicondylitis. Methods A total of 150 patients with lateral epicondylitis were randomly divided into two groups, 75 patients in each group. The treatment group received manipulation combined with the TCM herbal bathing decoction, and the control group received the shock wave therapy and TCM herbal bathing decoction. Two groups were treated for 3 months. The SF-McGill scale, VAS, PPI, PRI were measured, and the clinical curative effect rate was assessed after treatment. Results The total effective rate of the treatment group was 92.0% (69/75), and the control group was 80.0% (60/75). There was statistical significant difference between two groups (χ2=8.339, P=0.039). The SF-McGill pain questionnaire scores, after treatment (26.3 ± 9.9 vs. 29.4 ± 8.8, t=-4.183), one month after treatment (20.5 ± 7.7 vs. 25.6 ± 6.9, t=-3.954), and 3 months after treatment (14.4 ± 8.0 vs. 18.3 ± 6.7, t=-4.031) in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The VAS scores after treatment (4.9 ± 1.4 vs. 5.8 ± 1.3, t=-4.631), one month after treatment (3.0 ± 1.0 vs. 4.1±1.2, t=-3.752), and three months after treatment (2.3 ± 1.0 vs. 3.0 ± 1.3, t=-4.350) in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The PPI score after treatment (2.4 ± 0.6 vs. 3.1 ± 0.5, t=-7.528), one month after treatment (1.8 ± 0.6 vs. 2.5 ± 0.7, t=-6.630), and 3 months after treatment (1.1 ± 0.4 vs. 1.9 ± 0.7, t=-3.425) in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The PRI score after treatment (19.5 ± 8.0 vs. 22.3 ± 5.7, t=-3.574), one month after treatment (13.7 ± 4.7 vs. 17.3 ± 5.3, t=-3.985), and three months after treatment (9.3 ± 6.6 vs. 12.5 ± 4.8, t=-1.270) in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusions The Manipulation combined with traditional Chinese medicine bathing therapy can relief the symptoms of lateral epicondylitis, and improve the clinical curative effect. Key words: Lateral epicondylitis; Manipulation, osteopathic; Activating blood and relaxing muscle-tendon; External application drugs; Clinical study