title: Distribution characteristics of meridian sinew (jingjin) syndrome in 313 cases of whiplash-associated disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate and analyze the characteristics of Meridian Sinew (Jingjin) syndrome in patients with whiplash-associated disorders (WAD).
  
  
  METHODS
  From August 2010 to September 2011, 313 WAD cases from New York and California states were collected. The survey mostly collects the information of "Sinew Knotted Points" and symptoms of four types of Meridian Sinew differentiation-Taiyang, Shaoyin, Shaoyang and Yangming.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the cases which are on the average of medium injury level, the higher frequency of "Sinew Knotted Points" tenderness were found on Jianwaishu (SI 14), Jianzhongshu (SI 15), Tianchuang (SI 16), C3-6 Spinous Process, Dazhui (GV 14), Fengchi (GB 20), Tianliao (SJ 15) and Tianding (LI 17). The most commonly presented symptoms were widespread spasm and tenderness in the neck (Taiyang), difficulty in lateral flexion (Shaoyang), problems of extension and flexion (Taiyang), and stiffness and pain during neck movement (Yangming). Among the cases, 237 cases (75.72%) were related to Taiyang Meridian Sinew syndrome, 82 cases (26.20%) to Shaoyin syndrome and 175 (55.91%) and 176 (56.23%) cases to Shaoyang and Yangming syndrome respectively. The most of cases presented in a combination format. The syndrome distribution under Grade I, II and III reflected that more combination of the Meridian Sinew syndromes in the whiplash injury patients which is resulted from more severity of injury.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is practical to identify the location of abnormality through Meridian Sinew differentiation, considering both "Sinew Knotted Points" tenderness and corresponding symptoms, for the local neck symptoms of WAD.
authors.affiliation: New York College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 155 First Street, Mineola, NY, 11501, USA.
authors.forename: Ye-meng
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Xiao-lin
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Qun-ce
authors.initials: QC
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiu-yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Frank D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Jun-hui
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Tian-fang
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016740:Meridians; D013577:Syndrome; D014911:Whiplash Injuries / Q000628:therapy*