[Observation on therapeutic effect of acupuncture at pain points for treatment of myofascial pain syndrome].
OBJECTIVE
To compare therapeutic effects of acupuncture at pain points and massage combined with medicine on myofascial pain syndrome (MPS).


METHODS
One hundred and fifty cases were randomly divided into an observation group (n=90) and a control group (n=60). The observation group was treated with needle-sticking method combined with single-finger meditation pushing therapy at pain points, and the control group with local application of Votalin Emulgel combined with Tuina. All the patients were treated for 1 course and followed up after 3 months and their therapeutic effects were compared.


RESULTS
There were significant differences in cumulative scores of symptoms before and after treatment in the two groups (both P < 0.01), and there were no significant differences in the pain and pressure pain between the two groups (P > 0.05), and there were significant differences in the muscle spasm and joint range of motion between the two groups (P < 0.05); after treatment, the markedly effective rate and the total effective rate in the observation group were 57.8% and 94.4% respectively, and were 31.7% and 73.3% respectively in the control group, with a significant difference between the two groups (both P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Needle-sticking method combined with single-finger meditation pushing therapy at pain points can effectively alleviate pain and pressure pain in the patients with MPS and it has better therapeutic effect in the markedly effective rate and the total effective rate as well as improvement of muscle spasm and joint range of motion than local application of Votalin Emulgel combined with Tuina.
Department of Acupuncture and Massage, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200233, China.
Jun-feng
JF
Zhang
Yao-Chi
YC
Wu
Yi-qun
YQ
Mi
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009209:Myofascial Pain Syndromes / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult