Acute lumbar sprain is very common in outpatient department. It's caused by wrong posture when one bends over or by improper exertion and impeded motion. Sudden pain occurs in the lumbar area. Since 1988 we've adopted qigong with acupuncture in treating the problem and have got satisfactory results. Here is the report.

(I) Clinical data
Among 70 patients, 49 were males and 21 were females, the age was between 16 to 68. The average age was 36. The maximum incidence was formed, amounting to 70 cases (70%). The disease course was from 1 hour to 7 days.
Diagnostic criteria: low back pain, rigidity, spinous process turned away from the median line, local tenderness radiating to legs, impeded motion and straight leg rising, 4-letter crosstest, and pelvic separation(+).
(II) Treatment
1. Qigong
(1) Emitted qi by pushing, pulling, turning, pressing and digital acupoint pressure.
(2) Practice 3-Axes Health Preserving Qigong.
2. Acupuncture
Renzhang (Du 26) and Yanglao (SI 6) were needled. The patient was asked to move his low back, then the patient practiced the 'Three Axes--Health Preserving Qigong;the needle was retained for about 20 minutes, during the time the practitioner manipulated the needle for 2 or 3 times.
70 cases were divided into two groups. One consisting of 50 was treated by integrated qigong with acupuncture, and the other 20 were treated only with acupuncture. Pain, age, sex, disease course and area of injury were almost the same between the two groups.
(III) Evaluation of effect
Marked effectiveness: Lumbar pain disappeared or obviously relieved with normal motion, positive signs turned to negative.
Effectiveness: Lumbar pain partially relieved, slight motion impairment, positive signs.
Failure: No change
Results:

case marked % effective % total % failure %
effective ness case case
ness
qigong+ 50 47 94 2 4 49 98 1 2
acupuncture
acupuncture 20 11 55 5 25 16 80 4 20

Observations of effect of qigong and acupuncture in treatment of lumbar sprain