Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of red-hot needle therapy combined with cupping for cervicogenic periarthritis of shoulder.Methods Forty-two cases of cervicogenic periarthritis of shoulder were randomized into red-hot needle group and routine acupuncture group(n=21).For patients of the routine acupuncture group

the filiform needles were applied to Tianzhu(BL 10)

Jianjing(GB 21)

Jianzhongshu(SI 15)

Jianzhen(SI 9)

Jianliao(TE 14)

Jianyu(LI 15)

Jianqian

Tianzong(SI 11)and Ashi-points on the affected side

followed by conducting cupping at the anterior and posterior regions of the affected shoulder

SI 11

GB 21 and SI 15.For patients of the red-hot needle group

the Ashi-points on the affected shoulder were punctured with cauterized filiform needles

following by performing cupping.The treatment was performed once daily and once every other day respectively for two weeks.The shoulder motor function was assessed according to the adjusted Constant-Murley test.Results After the treatment

the integrated scores of shoulder pain

shoulder-joint activities in daily living and shoulderjoint motion range were significantly increased in both groups compared with pre-treatment in the same one group(P<0.05)and obviously higher in the red-hot needle group than in the routine acupuncture group(P<0.05).Of the two 21 cases of shoulder periarthritis patients in the routine acupuncture and red-hot needle groups

4and 8were cured

14 and 12experienced improvement

3and 1was invalid

with the effective rates being 85.71% and 95.24%

respectively.The therapeutic effect of the redhot needle therapy was significantly superior to that of the routine acupuncture(P<0.05).Conclusion The red-hot needle therapy combined with cupping is effective in relieving cervicogenic shoulder periarthritis and is remarkably superior to routine acupuncture combined with cupping in improving shoulder periarthritis patients' symptoms.