Abstract
Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical effects of heating-conduction acupuncture therapy on ligament injury induced by acute ankle sprain. Methods : From september 16, 2008 to April 17, 2010, the 28 outpatients who had admitted to department of oriental rehabilitation medicine, Dae-Jeon oriental Medical hospital, Dae-Jeon university with acute ankle sprain were performed heating-conduction acupuncture therapy on anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular ligament injury. To evaluate the efficiency of heating-conduction acupuncture therapy, pain threshold with pressure algometer and visual analogue scale(VAS) were applied before treatment and after 1st, 2nd treatment. Results : 1. The pain threshold and the VAS score showed statistical significant improvement after 1st treatment on calcaneofibular and anterior talofibular ligament injury. 2. The VAS score after 2nd treatment on calcaneofibular and anterior talofibular ligament injury showed statistical significant improvement compared with that after 1st treatment. 3. The pain threshold after 2nd treatment on calcaneofibular and anterior talofibular ligament injury did not show statistical significant improvement compared with that after 1st treatment. 4. The difference between anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular ligament injury was not statistical significant in pain threshold and VAS score. Conclusions : Heating-conduction acupuncture therapy has clinical effects of pain reduction on patient with calcaneofibular ligament injury as well as anterior talofibular ligament induced by acute ankle sprain.