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J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2004;75:1054-1057 doi:10.1136/jnnp.2003.021485
  • Short report

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

  1. J G Sun1,
  2. C H Ko2,
  3. V Wong3,
  4. X R Sun4
  1. 1The Jockey Club MRI Engineering Center, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
  2. 2Department of Pediatrics, Caritas Medical Center, Hong Kong, China
  3. 3Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
  4. 4Liaoning Tongue Acupuncture Research Institute, Liaoning, China
  1. Correspondence to:
 Professor V Wong
 Division of Neurodevelopmental Paediatrics, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; vcnwonghkucc.hku.hk
  • Received 24 July 2003
  • Accepted 8 December 2003
  • Revised 25 November 2003

Abstract

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.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: none declared

Responses to this article

  • Critical appraisal for an article of tongue acupuncture
    • Michael Wong
    J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry published online September 29, 2005

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