Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture combined with biofeedback therapy in the treatment of outlet obstruction constipation. Methods: A total of 45 patients with outlet obstruction type constipation were randomly divided into treatment(acupuncture combined with biofeedback therapy) group(n=25) and control(biofeedback therapy only) group(n=20).In treatment group

bilateral Tianshu(ST 25)

Zusanli(ST 36)

Shangjuxu(ST 37)

Baihui(GV 20)

Dachangshu(BL 25) were used as the main acupoints in combination with Hegu(LI 4)

Zhongwan(CV 12)

etc.Biofeedback therapy was conducted by training the patient to repeatedly make rectal contraction and relax activities for 45 min

once daily.The treatment was given once everyday

with 5 sessions being a therapeutic course

and continuously for 3 courses.The interval between two courses was 2 days.The number of defecation

shape of stool

difficulty degree of defecation

and intra-rectal pressure were observed and detected. Results: Following the treatment

self-comparison of these two groups indicated that the times of defecation/week

scores of stool shape and the mean intrarectal pressure increased significantly(P<0.01)

the score of difficulty degree of defecation lowered considerably(P<0.01)

no significant differences were found between two groups in these indexes(P>0.05).One month after the treatment

the therapeutic effects(long-term effect) of treatment group were significantly superior to those of control group in raising the times of defecation/week

score of stool shape

and lowering the difficulty degree of defecation and maximum tolerable volume of intra-rectal pressure(P<0.05). Conclusion: Both acupuncture and biofeedback therapies can better the symptoms of outlet obstruction constipation patients

and the long-term therapeutic effect of acupuncture is markedly superior to that of biofeedback therapy.