Abstract & Overview
Objectives: The purpose of this clinical trial was to examine the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture on liver cirrhosis patients suffering from muscle cramps.Methods: Fourteen patients with liver cirrhosis who experienced muscle cramps at least once a week, regardless of cramp location, were enrolled and randomly allocated to an experimental group (n=12) or a control group (n=12).The experimental patients were treated with electroacupuncture at an electrical stimulation frequency of 100 Hz three times a week for four weeks (12 times in total).Muscle cramps were evaluated by a questionnaire that probed subjective symptoms.We analyzed the frequency of muscle cramps 3 times (at screening, 14 th visit, 15 th visit) during 8 weeks. Results:The number of patients with cramps occurring 'more than once a week' was reduced and the proportion of patients decreased in response to electroacupuncture.The number of patients with cramps occurring 'less than once every two weeks' increased and the proportion of patients also increased in response to eletroacupunture. Conclusions:The results of this study suggest that electroacupuncture treatment will be beneficial for improving muscle cramps in patients with liver cirrhosis.Electroacupuncture is considered a safe and efficacious treatment for patients with liver cirrhosis who complain of muscle cramps.