Subcutaneous electrical stimulation (acupuncture) in the clinical practice of physical medicine

There has been a rapid growth in both interest and concern over the value of acupuncture in this country during the last three years. Initially it was regarded with doubt, then with overwhelming interest, but only recently have any research data appeared as to its true value and applicability to western medicine. An acupuncture research project was initiated in November 1972 by the author to assess the immediate and long-range benefits of acupuncture in a group of 179 patients with various neuromuscular-skeletal pain and mobility problems. A total of 1,112 treatments have been administered. A follow-up survey of these patients was completed in October 1974 with 126 (70%) of the patients responding to a subjective questionnaire. In 49% of the patients the initial response to acupuncture treatments was some reduction of symptoms and in a significant percentage there was persistence of beneficial response for greater than three months.