ObjectiveTo compare the clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture at the myofascial trigger points and local blocking at pain points for the treatment of tennis elbow. Methods62 cases with tennis elbow were divided into 2 groups, with 32 cases treated by acupuncture at the trigger points of myofascial pain and 30 cases treated by local blocking at pain points. Patients in local blocking group were treated by 1% lidocaine plus Triamcinolone injection at pain points. Then they were required to do stretching exercise of the forearm extensor muscles group. Patients in acupuncture group were treated by local blocking, followed by acupuncture at the trigger points of myofascial pain. Both groups were treated once a week, 1 to 2 sessions constituting a therapeutic course. The pain intensity before and one month after the treatment were evaluated using the visual analogue scale(VAS), After 2 years of follow-up, the recurrent rate was observed. ResultsIn acupuncture group, the numbers showing excellent effect, good effect, and poor effect were 21, 9, and 2 respectively. In local blocking group, the numbers showing excellent effect, good effect, and poor effect were 13, 8, and 9 respectively. The short-term effect of acupuncture group was better than that of local blocking group. There was significant difference between the VAS score before and after the treatment in each group (P＜0.05). The VAS score between two groups showed no difference, while the long-term effect of acupuncture group was better than that of local blocking group (P＜0.05). ConclusionAcupuncture at the myofascial trigger points combined with local blocking at pain points in treating tennis elbow shows the advantage of better and longer effect compared with local blocking at pain points alone.

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