Edwin M L Yiu1, Karen M K Chan1, Nicole Y K Li2, Raymond Tsang3, Katherine Verdolini Abbott4, Elaine Kwong1, Estella P M Ma1, Fred W Tse5, Zhixiu Lin6. 1. Division of Speech & Hearing Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. 2. School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 3. Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. 4. Communication Science and Disorders, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. 5. Fred Tse's CM Clinic, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. 6. School of Chinese Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Acupuncture is a less-invasive procedure when compared with surgical treatment for benign vocal pathologies caused by vocal overuse. This study aimed to determine the wound-healing effect of acupuncture in treating phonotraumatic vocal fold lesions. STUDY DESIGN: Two-way, mixed-model, between- and within-subjects, prospective randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded group design. METHODS:Seventeen dysphonic individuals with vocal nodules were recruited from a university clinic in Hong Kong. Each participant was randomly assigned to receive one session of either genuine or sham acupuncture. The genuine acupuncture group (n = 9) received needles puncturing nine voice-related acupoints for 30 minutes, whereas the sham acupuncture group (n = 8) received blunted needles stimulating the skin surface of the nine acupoints for the same frequency and duration. Laryngeal secretions were suctioned from the surface of the vocal folds immediately before, immediately after, and 24 hours after the acupuncture. The protein concentration levels of wound-healing-related cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1β and IL-10) in these secretion samples were measured. RESULTS: Following acupuncture, a significant increase in the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was found in the genuine acupuncture group (n = 9) but not in the sham acupuncture group (n = 8). CONCLUSIONS: The findings showed that acupuncture of voice-related acupoints facilitated an anti-inflammatory process in phonotraumatic vocal pathologies. This could be considered as supporting evidence to consider acupuncture as a less-invasive alternative option, when compared to surgery, for treating phonotraumatic vocal pathologies.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Acupuncture is a less-invasive procedure when compared with surgical treatment for benign vocal pathologies caused by vocal overuse. This study aimed to determine the wound-healing effect of acupuncture in treating phonotraumatic vocal fold lesions. STUDY DESIGN: Two-way, mixed-model, between- and within-subjects, prospective randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded group design. METHODS: Seventeen dysphonic individuals with vocal nodules were recruited from a university clinic in Hong Kong. Each participant was randomly assigned to receive one session of either genuine or sham acupuncture. The genuine acupuncture group (n = 9) received needles puncturing nine voice-related acupoints for 30 minutes, whereas the sham acupuncture group (n = 8) received blunted needles stimulating the skin surface of the nine acupoints for the same frequency and duration. Laryngeal secretions were suctioned from the surface of the vocal folds immediately before, immediately after, and 24 hours after the acupuncture. The protein concentration levels of wound-healing-related cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1β and IL-10) in these secretion samples were measured. RESULTS: Following acupuncture, a significant increase in the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was found in the genuine acupuncture group (n = 9) but not in the sham acupuncture group (n = 8). CONCLUSIONS: The findings showed that acupuncture of voice-related acupoints facilitated an anti-inflammatory process in phonotraumatic vocal pathologies. This could be considered as supporting evidence to consider acupuncture as a less-invasive alternative option, when compared to surgery, for treating phonotraumatic vocal pathologies.
Authors: Sang In Park; Yun-Young Sunwoo; Yu Jin Jung; Woo Chul Chang; Moon-Seo Park; Young-An Chung; Lee-So Maeng; Young-Min Han; Hak Soo Shin; Jisoo Lee; Sang-Hoon Lee Journal: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med Date: 2012-12-10 Impact factor: 2.629
Authors: Edwin M L Yiu; Karen M K Chan; Elaine Kwong; Nicole Y K Li; Estella P M Ma; Fred W Tse; Zhixiu Lin; Katherine Verdolini Abbott; Raymond Tsang Journal: J Voice Date: 2015-08-19 Impact factor: 2.009