title: The therapeutic effect of collateral meridian therapy is comparable to acupoint pressure therapy in treating myofascial pain syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study compared the therapeutic effects of collateral meridian therapy (CMT) with traditional acupoint pressure therapy (APT) in patients with unilateral upper back pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-nine patients with active myofascial trigger points in upper trapezius muscle were randomly allocated to the control (CTL), APT, or CMT group. Each subject in the CMT and APT groups received 2 sessions of treatment per week over 1 month.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients in the APT and CMT groups showed significant improvements 1 month after treatment in visual analogue scale, range of motion, pain pressure threshold, regional superficial blood flow, and physical health, as compared to the CTL group. No significant differences in outcome measures were found between APT and CMT groups 1 month after treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both APT and CMT have comparable therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of unilateral upper back pain with active myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Si-Huei
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cultural Asset and Reinvention, Fo-Guang University, Ilan 262, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wan-An
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chang-Shun
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jia-Chi
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tsung-Ching
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Center for Traditional Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jen-Lin
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Rai-Chi
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Pain Clinic, Painless Ginza Hospital, Ginza, Japan. Electronic address: dr.ko@enrac.com.
authors.forename: Shan-Chi
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biophysics, Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan. Electronic address: cdkuo23@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Cheng-Deng
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Kuo
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016740:Meridians; D008875:Middle Aged; D009209:Myofascial Pain Syndromes / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D061028:Trigger Points / Q000503:physiopathology; D064232:Visual Analog Scale; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Acupoint pressure therapy; Collateral meridian therapy; Myofascial pain syndrome; Trigger points