Clinical effectiveness of hand acupuncture combined with exercise therapy in treatment of lumbar myofascial pain syndrome

Objective To observe the immediate clinical effect of hand acupuncture combined with exercise therapy in the treatment of lumbar myofascial pain syndrome (MPS). Methods From January to December in 2018,40 patients suffering lumbar MPS who met the criteria were enrolled in the acupuncture department of the first medical center of Chinese PLA General Hospital.Among them,21 were male and 19 were female,aged 39.65±13.09 (18 to 60) years old.The mean disease course was 31 days.The needle was inserted at the lumbar acupoint of the second metacarpal microneedle system of the affected side,and left for 10 minutes after the needling sensation was felt.During the period,the patients were slowly and evenly flexed and extended with the range of motion gradually increasing.The infrared thermal image,VAS scores and changes in lumbar joint mobility before and after treatment were observed and recorded. Results Of the 40 patients with lumbar MPS,the infrared thermal image before treatment showed that 28 cases (70.0%) had multiple focal regions with higher temperature contrast in the waist,3 cases (7.5%) had lower temperature contrast regions;13 cases (32.5%) had a continuous spinal thermal line,27 cases (67.5%) had discontinuous one.After treatment,21 patients (62.5%) had elevated waist temperature;22 patients (55.0%) had a continuous spinal thermal line,and 18 (45.0%) cases still had a discontinuous spinal thermal line.The VAS score was (5.15±1.34) before treatment and decreased to (2.51±1.21) after treatment (P<0.001).The ROM of back flexion (51.41±15.00)° vs (61.47±18.06)°,extension (22.08±10.31)° vs (27.27±11.77)°,left side flexion (32.12±8.38)° vs (36.07±7.28)°,right side flexion (33.49±7.62)° vs (37.49±6.13)° all increased significantly after treatment (all P<0.001). Conclusion The infrared thermal image of the lower back shows that hand acupuncture combined with exercise therapy increases the temperature of the waist area in MPS patients,which can instantly relieve the pain and increase the range of lumbar mobility.