Objective: To compare the effect of proximal needling and routine acupuncture for sciatica.

Methods: Sixty patients with sciatica were randomly divided into a proximal needling group and a routine acupuncture group, 30 cases in each group. The proximal needling group was treated by proximal needling at Huantiao (GB 30). The routine acupuncture group was treated by acupuncture at Huantiao (GB 30), Yinmen (BL 37), Weizhong (BL 40), Yanglingquan (GB 34) etc. with routine acupuncture method. The Numerical Pain Rating Scales (NPRS) the Japanese Orthopaedic Association Scores (JOA) were all observed before, after treatment and in following up.

Results: The total effective rates were 100.0% (30/30) in both groups, with no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05) in 3 month follow up. After 5 treatments, the total improvement rate of 100.0% (30/30) in the proximal needling group was super to that of 80.0% (24/30) in the routine acupuncture group. The NPRS and JOA scores were all improved significantly after 5 treatment and in following up compared with those before treatment in two groups (all P < 0.01). After treatments, the improvement of the NPRS and JOA scores in the proximal needling group was greater than those in the routine acupuncture group (both P < 0.05).

Conclusions: The proximal needling treatment has rapid and obvious therapeutic effect and analgesia on sciatica.