Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 12, 2026
Repeated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Combined with Action Observation Training in Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy
Published on: August 9, 2024
Press-needle therapy combined with sensory integration training in children with mild to moderate Tic disorders: A
Sheng-Nan Ge1, Wen-Long Hu2, Chun-Lian Wang3
1Department of Pediatric, Luohu District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China.
Insights
Press-needle therapy (PNT) combined with sensory integration training (SIT) effectively reduces tics in children. This non-pharmacological approach is as effective as medication but without side effects.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Integrative Medicine
Background:
- Tic disorders (TD) affect children, impacting quality of life.
- Current treatments include behavioral therapy and medication, each with limitations.
- Evaluating novel non-pharmacological interventions is crucial for pediatric TD management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy and safety of press-needle therapy (PNT) plus sensory integration training (SIT) against SIT alone and tiapride hydrochloride in children with mild to moderate TD.
- To assess tic severity reduction and adverse events across treatment groups.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, three-arm, randomized controlled trial involving 162 children (6-12 years) with persistent TD.
- Participants were randomized to PNT + SIT, SIT alone, or oral tiapride hydrochloride for 12 weeks, followed by a 12-week follow-up.
- Primary outcomes: Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) and traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores. Secondary outcomes: clinical response rate and adverse events.
Main Results:
- All groups showed significant improvement in YGTSS and TCM syndrome scores from baseline.
- PNT + SIT and tiapride showed comparable tic reduction at week 12 and follow-up, superior to SIT alone.
- No adverse events were reported with PNT + SIT, significantly fewer than with tiapride.
Conclusions:
- Press-needle therapy (PNT) combined with sensory integration training (SIT) is a safe and effective non-pharmacological treatment for pediatric TD.
- PNT + SIT offers tic reduction comparable to pharmacological treatment without adverse effects.
- This combination therapy presents a promising alternative for managing tic disorders in children.
Background:
This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of press-needle therapy (PNT) with sensory integration training (SIT) compared to SIT alone or standard pharmacological treatment with tiapride hydrochloride in children with mild to moderate tic disorders (TD).
Methods:
A prospective, three-arm, randomized controlled trial was conducted with 162 children aged 6 to 12 years meeting DSM-5 criteria for persistent TD (mild to moderate severity). Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to one of 3 groups: Group 1 (PNT plus SIT, n = 54); Group 2 (SIT alone, n = 54); or Group 3 (oral tiapride hydrochloride, n = 54). The intervention period lasted 12 weeks with a subsequent 12-week follow-up. Primary outcomes included changes in the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) total score and the traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score. Secondary outcomes comprised of clinical response rate (≥30% YGTSS reduction) and adverse events.
Results:
All 3 groups showed statistically significant improvements from baseline in both YGTSS and traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores at weeks 6 and 12 (all P < .05). Statistically significant between-group differences were observed at week 12 and at the 12-week posttreatment follow-up (all P < .01). All 3 groups achieved high overall response rates, with no statistically significant differences among them (P > .05). Group 2 showed a slightly lower response rate (92.59%) compared to Groups 1 and 3 (both 98.15%). No adverse events occurred in Group 1. One case (1.9%) was reported in Group 2, and 5 cases (9.3%) in Group 3. The incidence of adverse events differed significantly among the groups (P < .05).
Conclusion:
PNT combined SIT provides significant clinical benefits over SIT alone and offers tic reduction comparable to first-line pharmacological treatment, without associated side effects. These findings suggest that PNT combined SIT may serve as a safe and effective non-pharmacological alternative for managing pediatric TD.