The effect of electronic moxibustion combined with rehabilitation nursing on the lumbar pain and stiffness of ankylosing spondylitis patients.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of electronic moxibustion combined with rehabilitation nursing on the lumbar pain and stiffness of ankylosing spondylitis patients.

METHODS

Ninety-four ankylosing spondylitis patients were recruited as the study cohort and randomly assigned into a control group, which underwent rehabilitation nursing, and a research group, which underwent electronic moxibustion combined with rehabilitation nursing. The clinical effects in the two groups were compared, and the occipital-wall distances, finger-floor distances, spine mobility, morning stiffness durations, overall morning stiffness levels, lower back pain, motor performance of the upper and lower limbs, and the quality of life were compared between the two groups before and after the intervention.

RESULTS

The effective rate in the research group was significantly higher than it was in the control group (91.49% vs. 74.47%, P < 0.001). The research group patients had significantly greater occipital-wall distances, better spine mobility and shorter finger-floor distances than the control group after the intervention (all P < 0.05). The research group patients also showed significantly shorter morning stiffness durations, lower overall morning stiffness levels, and the lower visual analogue scale (VAS) lower back scores than the control group (all P < 0.05). The motor performance of the upper and lower limbs in the research group was significantly better than it was in the control group after the intervention (P < 0.05). The research group had significantly higher quality of life scores than the control group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Electronic moxibustion combined with rehabilitation nursing in ankylosing spondylitis patients shows significant advantages compared with rehabilitation nursing alone. The combination, which can improve the quality of life, and the motor performance of the upper and lower limbs, and relieve patients' lumbar pain and stiffness, is worthy of further promotion and application.