SHORT REPORT

Randomised control trial of tongue acupuncture versus sham acupuncture in improving functional outcome in cerebral palsy

J G Sun¹, C H Ko², V Wong³, X R Sun⁴

¹ The Jockey Club MRI Engineering Center, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
² Department of Pediatrics, Caritas Medical Center, Hong Kong, China
³ Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
⁴ Liaoning Tongue Acupuncture Research Institute, Liaoning, China

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Professor V Wong
Division of Neurodevelopmental Paediatrics, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; vcnwong{at}hkucc.hku.hk

Background: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used historically in the treatment of cerebral palsy (CP). We investigated the efficacy of acupuncture in improving the motor function of children with CP.

Methods: A randomised control trial was conducted to assess the effect of tongue acupuncture (TAC) in 33 CP children. The subjects were randomised to treatment (n = 22) with TAC or control (n = 11). Clinical outcome was evaluated using the gross motor function measure (GMFM) and the pediatric evaluation of disability inventory (PEDI).

Results: The increase in mean GMFM score was significantly greater in the treatment than in the control group (p = 0.042).

Conclusion: An improvement in motor function of CP subjects is seen following a short course of acupuncture.

Abbreviations: CP, cerebral palsy; GMFM, Gross Motor Function Measure; MR, mental retardation; PEDI, Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory; TAC, tongue acupuncture; TCM, traditional Chinese medicine

Keywords: acupuncture; cerebral palsy; children; Gross Motor Function Measure; Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory; tongue acupuncture; traditional Chinese medicine

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This article has been cited by other articles:

• Watson, P. (2009). Modulation of involuntary movements in cerebral palsy with acupuncture. Acupuncture in Medicine 27: 76-78 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Wu, Y., Jin, Z., Li, K., Lu, Z.-L., Wong, V., Han, T.-L., Zheng, H., Caspi, O., Liu, G., Zeng, Y.-W., Zou, L.-P. (2008). Effect of Acupuncture on the Brain in Children With Spastic Cerebral Palsy Using Functional Neuroimaging (fMRI). J Child Neurol 23: 1267-1274 [Abstract]  
• Gold, J. I., Nicolaou, C. D., Belmont, K. A., Katz, A. R., Benaron, D. M., Yu, W. (2008). Pediatric Acupuncture: A Review of Clinical Research. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 0: nem181v1-nem181 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Wong, V. C.N., Sun, J.-G., Yeung, D. W.C. (2006). Pilot Study of Efficacy of Tongue and Body Acupuncture in Children With Visual Impairment. J Child Neurol 21: 462-473 [Abstract]  

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Critical appraisal for an article of tongue acupuncture

Michael Wong

JNNP Online, 29 Sep 2005 [Full text]