Abstract
The patient was a 61-year-old female. Abnormal neck posture first appeared in July 2001.We started acupuncture treatment once a week at our clinic in November 2001. We evaluated the patient clinically with electromyography (EMG). At the time of the first medical examination, neck posture in the sitting position showed right rotation due to hypertonus of the right splenius (SPL) and left trapezius on EMG finding. The retaining needle on the meridian points and the multiple epidermis penetrating needle on a tender spot were used every week as acupuncture treatment. The point of the retaining needle was both ways SI3 in the affected SPL and TE5 in trapezius. As regards right scalenus and right levatorscapulae inserted directly. Multiple epidermis penetrating needles were used to treat skin and muscle shortening in the right lateral portion of the neck. Nevertheless, after acupuncture therapy, the neck posture in the sitting position was not improved, so we again studied acupuncture therapy and paid attention to the scalenus. The point of the retaining needle was ST42 in the affected scalenus, LI4 in the sternocleidomastoid (SCM), SI3 in the SPL, and GV20 due to involuntary movement. Multiple epidermis penetrating needles were used to treat skin and muscle shortening of the right scalenus, around the left SCM from the left trapezius. As a consequence of modifying the acupuncture therapy again, the neck posture in the sitting position and the EMG result also improved. The results suggested that the acupuncture therapy with the retaining needle and Multiple epidermis penetrating needles are beneficial for cervical dystonia.
