Balanced acupuncture, a single-acupoint balance therapy, regulates the balance of the cerebral center, and is characterized by exerting quick effects and a short treatment course. A total of 20 low-back and leg pain p...Balanced acupuncture, a single-acupoint balance therapy, regulates the balance of the cerebral center, and is characterized by exerting quick effects and a short treatment course. A total of 20 low-back and leg pain patients with lumbar disc herniation were treated with balanced acupuncture or body acupuncture. Central mechanisms of vaded acupunctures were compared using resting-state functional MRI. Patients from both groups received functional MRI before and after acupuncture. Functional connectivity in brain regions that were strongly associated with the bilatera amygdala was analyzed utilizing AFNI software. Visual analogue scale scores were greater in the balanced acupuncture group compared with the body acupuncture group. Function of the endogenous pain regulation network was enhanced in patients in the balanced acupuncture group, but was not changed in the body acupuncture group. This result indicates that the analgesic effects of body acupuncture do not work through the central nervous system. These data suggest that balanced acupuncture exerts analgesic effects on low-back and leg pain patients with lumbar disc herniation by regulating the function of the endogenous pain regulation network.展开更多
Background As one of the most common musculoskeletal ailments,chronic nonspecific low-back pain(CNLBP)causes persistent disability and substantial medical expenses.Epidemiological evidence shows that the incidence rat...Background As one of the most common musculoskeletal ailments,chronic nonspecific low-back pain(CNLBP)causes persistent disability and substantial medical expenses.Epidemiological evidence shows that the incidence rate of CNLBP in young and middle-aged people who are demanded rapidly recovery and social contribution is rising.Recent guidelines indicate a reduced role for medicines in the management of CNLBP.Objective The present study investigates the short-term effects of cupping and scraping therapy using a medicated balm,compared to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug(NSAID)with a capsaicin plaster,in the treatment of CNLBP.Design,setting,participants and interventions We designed a prospective multicenter randomized clinical trial enrolling patients from January 1,2022 to December 31,2022.A total of 156 patients with CNLBP were randomized into two parallel groups.Diclofenac sodium-sustained release tablets were administered orally to participants in the control group for one week while a capsaicin plaster was applied externally.Patients in the test group were treated with cupping and scraping using a medical device and medicated balm.Main outcome measures Primary outcome was pain recorded using the visual analogue scale(VAS).Two secondary outcomes were recorded using the Japanese Orthopedic Association low-back pain scale(JOA)and the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome integral scale(TCMS)as assessment tools.Results Between baseline and postintervention,all changes in outcome metric scales were statistically significant(P<0.001).Compared to the control group,patients in the test group had a significantly greater treatment effect in all outcome variables,as indicated by lower VAS and TCMS scores and higher JOA scores,after the one-week intervention period(P<0.001).Further,according to the findings of multivariate linear regression analysis,the participants’pain(VAS score)was related to their marital status,age,smoking habits and body mass index.No adverse reactions were reported for any participants in this trial.Conclusion The effectiveness of TCM combined with the new physiotherapy tool is superior to that of NSAID combined with topical plasters,regarding to pain intensity,TCM symptoms and quality of life.The TCM plus physiotherapy also showed more stable and long-lasting therapeutic effects.展开更多
基金funded by the Scientific Research Innovation Program regarding Traditional Chinese Medicine of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Central mechanism of balanced acupuncture for lumbar disc herniationusing functional MRI), No. 09CX068
文摘Balanced acupuncture, a single-acupoint balance therapy, regulates the balance of the cerebral center, and is characterized by exerting quick effects and a short treatment course. A total of 20 low-back and leg pain patients with lumbar disc herniation were treated with balanced acupuncture or body acupuncture. Central mechanisms of vaded acupunctures were compared using resting-state functional MRI. Patients from both groups received functional MRI before and after acupuncture. Functional connectivity in brain regions that were strongly associated with the bilatera amygdala was analyzed utilizing AFNI software. Visual analogue scale scores were greater in the balanced acupuncture group compared with the body acupuncture group. Function of the endogenous pain regulation network was enhanced in patients in the balanced acupuncture group, but was not changed in the body acupuncture group. This result indicates that the analgesic effects of body acupuncture do not work through the central nervous system. These data suggest that balanced acupuncture exerts analgesic effects on low-back and leg pain patients with lumbar disc herniation by regulating the function of the endogenous pain regulation network.
基金supported by the 13th Five-Year Army Key Discipline Construction Project(No.2020SZ06-17).
文摘Background As one of the most common musculoskeletal ailments,chronic nonspecific low-back pain(CNLBP)causes persistent disability and substantial medical expenses.Epidemiological evidence shows that the incidence rate of CNLBP in young and middle-aged people who are demanded rapidly recovery and social contribution is rising.Recent guidelines indicate a reduced role for medicines in the management of CNLBP.Objective The present study investigates the short-term effects of cupping and scraping therapy using a medicated balm,compared to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug(NSAID)with a capsaicin plaster,in the treatment of CNLBP.Design,setting,participants and interventions We designed a prospective multicenter randomized clinical trial enrolling patients from January 1,2022 to December 31,2022.A total of 156 patients with CNLBP were randomized into two parallel groups.Diclofenac sodium-sustained release tablets were administered orally to participants in the control group for one week while a capsaicin plaster was applied externally.Patients in the test group were treated with cupping and scraping using a medical device and medicated balm.Main outcome measures Primary outcome was pain recorded using the visual analogue scale(VAS).Two secondary outcomes were recorded using the Japanese Orthopedic Association low-back pain scale(JOA)and the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome integral scale(TCMS)as assessment tools.Results Between baseline and postintervention,all changes in outcome metric scales were statistically significant(P<0.001).Compared to the control group,patients in the test group had a significantly greater treatment effect in all outcome variables,as indicated by lower VAS and TCMS scores and higher JOA scores,after the one-week intervention period(P<0.001).Further,according to the findings of multivariate linear regression analysis,the participants’pain(VAS score)was related to their marital status,age,smoking habits and body mass index.No adverse reactions were reported for any participants in this trial.Conclusion The effectiveness of TCM combined with the new physiotherapy tool is superior to that of NSAID combined with topical plasters,regarding to pain intensity,TCM symptoms and quality of life.The TCM plus physiotherapy also showed more stable and long-lasting therapeutic effects.