Objective To compare the clinical therapeutic effect of intensive moxibustion plus acupuncture and simple acupuncture therapy in the treatment of frozen shoulder so as to provide a reference for clinical practice.Methods A total of60 patients with frozen shoulder were randomly divided into intensive moxibustion plus acupuncture group and simple acupuncture group(n=30 per group).Acupoints Jianyu(LI15)

Jianzhen(SI9)

Jianliao(TE14)

Tiaokou(ST38)

Chengshan(BL57)and Ashi points(Extra)were punctured with filiform needles which were manipulated till the patients experienced feelings of soreness and distension in the local region

followed by retaining the needles for 40 min.For patients of the moxibustion plus acupuncture group

after acupuncture

an ignited moxa-stick segment was applied to the affected shoulder for 40-50 min.After the treatment

all patients were ordered to make a shoulder exercise(anteflexion

rear protraction

abduction and upthrow movements

etc.).The visual analogue scale(VAS)was used to assess the pain severity

and the Constant-Murley shoulder assessment scale(the total score is 100 points

including 15 points in pain severity and 20 points in daily living activities

40 points in joint motion range

and25 points in myodynamia)used to assess the functional state of the shoulder

and the"Standards for Diagnosis and Therapeutic Effect Evaluation of Diseases of Traditional Chinese Medicine"(1994)were employed to evaluate the therapeutic effect.Results Following the treatment

intra-group comparison showed that the VAS score was significantly reduced in both groups in comparison with their own pre-treatment(P<0.05)

and the total scores of Constant-Murley scale

the scores of activities of daily living and active motion range

as well as the scores of pain integration and myodynamia

were all considerably increased in the two groups in comparison with their own pre-treatment(all P<0.05).The therapeutic effect of the moxibustion plus acupuncture was significantly superior to that of the simple acupuncture in reducing VAS score and increasing total score of Constant-Murley scale

and scores of activities of daily living and active motion range

as well as the scores of pain integration(P<0.05).Of the two 29 cases in the moxibustion plus acupuncture and simple acupuncture groups

19(65.52%)and 10(34.48%)were cured

8(27.58%)and 12(41.38%)experienced improvement

2(6.90%)and 7(24.14%)were failed

with the effective rate being 93.10%and 75.86%

respectively.The therapeutic effective rate of the moxibustion plus acupuncture was evidently higher than that of the simple acupuncture(P<0.05).Conclusion The therapeutic effect of intensive moxibustion plus acupuncture is superior to that of simple acupuncture in improving symptoms of frozen shoulder in patients.