Randomized control trial of hand acupuncture for female stress urinary incontinence

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of Hand acupuncture treatment on the stress urinary incontinence of 52 women randomly assigned to Experimental hand acupuncture treatment group (n = 25) and Control group (n = 27). 11 hand acupuncture points were established as a basic treatment formula. Among them, 5 points on the midline of the palm represent the major acupoints of external genitals, bladder, abdominal aorta, stomach and heart, while the other 6 points were applied as supplementary ones (2 points on the mid line of the palm for adrenal glands and heart, 2 points near the wrist for kidneys and 2 points on the back of the hand for bladder). This basic treatment formula was applied to all subjects in the Experimental group. Additional treatments were given to the subjects with tenderness at ST27, CV4 or SP15, while no treatment to the subjects in Control group for 12 weeks. Assessment was made before and after 12 weeks of clinical study. In the present study, Hand acupuncture treatment significantly reduced the frequency of urinary incontinence compared to Control group. Similarly, the prevalence score of urinary incontinence was significantly reduced up to 37% of Control group in Experimental group. Furthermore, vaginal contraction pressure of the Experimental group was significantly increased 1.6 fold compared to Control group. In addition, Hand acupuncture treatment significantly improved the scores of making friends, sexual life and social community in Experimental group compared to Control group. Overall, these findings suggest that Hand acupuncture can be a potent alternative therapy for stress urinary incontinence.