ABSTRACT
<p>The treatment of tinnitus is difficult with modern medicine. We encountered three cases of tinnitus for which press tack needle was effective.<br>The first case was a 65-year-old woman. She suffered from sudden deafness, and bilateral tinnitus continued for 5 years, at which point she consulted us. Her Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) score was 66 points. We administered press tack needle on the bilateral Yifeng (TE 17) points. Her THI score fell to 14 points after 1 month and zero points after 2 months, at which time treatment was completed. The second case was a 69-year-old man. Forty years before his initial visit, a gun was fired near his left ear, and tinnitus developed. The tinnitus repeatedly improved and aggravated. The tinnitus continued for 8 years before his initial visit. His THI score was 18. Press tack needle was administered to his Yifeng points. The THI score lowered to 2 points after 3 months. The third case was a 31-year-old woman. Her bilateral tinnitus started 15 days before her initial visit. Her THI score was 34 points. Press tack needle was administered to the bilateral Yifeng points. Her THI score dropped to 8 points after 4 months.<br>Press tack needle to the Yifeng points is simple and straightforward. This suggested that it is a valuable method to consider.</p>
ABSTRACT
In Japan, controlled devices for medical professionals have been often purchased by people other than acupuncturists or doctors, using the Internet sales system. Press Tack Needle (PYONEX<sup>®</sup>) allows easy handling by combining a plastic part with an adhesive tape. Since it has been reported to be relatively safe with limited adverse events such as adhesive-related dermatitis or similarly mild disorders, it is widely used. We report a case that when the patient removed a PYONEX<sup>®</sup> which applied by himself, the needle tip was broken and remained in his body. It might lead to an accident such as injury due to a broken needle left in the body. The patient had purchased the PYONEX<sup>®</sup> on his own judgments, storing it for a long period of time, applied it to his body 10 months after its expiration date and kept it attached for approximately 3 weeks. Plastics are characterized by deterioration and can be damaged by environmental factors including ultraviolet rays, water, and shocks. In this paper as an urgent issue, we note that when using these products, in addition to paying attention to their expiration dates, precautions should be considered since deterioration may also progress due to prolonged attachment.
ABSTRACT
[Objective]To assess the effect of press tack needle (PTN) acupuncture in treating insomnia.<BR>[Design]Sham-controlled, double-blinded n-of-1 trial with three phases, (A) no treatment, (B) real PTN, and (C) sham PTN.<BR>[Setting]Morinomiya University of Medical Sciences (Suminoe-ku, Osaka City)<BR>[Participants]Four subjects experiencing insomnia with 6 or more points on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). They were randomly assigned to groups A-B-A-C (n=2) or A-C-A-B (n=2).<BR>[Interventions]PTN with lengths of 0.6 mm were used on HT 7, PC 6, and SP 6 during phase B, while sham PTN without needle tips were used on the same points during phase C. Both real and sham PTN were administered twice a week.<BR>[Main Outcomes]Primary outcomes were sleeping hours and the number of nocturnal awakenings recorded in a sleep diary. Secondary outcomes included PSQI, Profile of Mood States (POMS), Stress Visual Analogue Scale (Stress VAS) and Sleep Quality Index measured by ActiSleep. <BR>[Main Results]We mainly assessed one patient with sleep-onset insomnia of 8 points or more (PSQI) before intervention. With the real PTN, the number of nocturnal awakenings decreased (1.6±0.9 for real vs. 3.6 ± 1.3for sham). Sleeping hours did not change significantly (Real 426 ± 49.3min, vs Sham 450 ± 60.0 min). Waking after sleep onset (65 ±14.7 min for real vs. 129 ± 39.5 min for sham) and sleep efficiency (82.8 ± 3%for real vs. 68.6 ± 4.3%for sham) estimated by ActiSleep also improved during the period of real PTN. Regarding T points for POMS, there was a difference between real (51) and sham (67) for "confusion;"however, blinding was unsuccessful and the wash-out period was not long enough.<BR>[Conclusion]Although we need further validations, due to some methodological flaws, the present results suggest that PTN acupuncture is clinically useful for some patients suffering from insomnia.
ABSTRACT
[Introduction]There are few studies on the effect of acupuncture on QOL and work ability. Therefore, by this prospective study, we examined the effect of acupuncture treatment for QOL and work ability of visual display terminal (VDT) workers. <BR>[Methods]Sixty-one VDT workers participated as subjects (41 males, 20 females). Acupuncture sessions were performed once a week for 4 weeks. Acupuncture points were decided by individualized VDT workers neck and shoulder symptoms points. Disposable press tack needles were used. Improvement of SF-36 and the work ability index were evaluated. <BR>[Results]All VDT workers completed follow-up. There were statistically significant improvements in Mental Component Score (MCS), Physical Component Score (PCS), Role Physical and Body-Pain of the SF-36, and WAI. Regular correlations between before WAI and MCS, PCS, and 8 subscales of the SF-36 were observed. In addition improvement rate of WAI and Body-Pain were observed.<BR>[Conclusion]Symptoms in the neck shoulder stiffness of the VDT workers was improved by acupuncture, and QOL/work ability improved.
ABSTRACT
[Introduction]Recently, in the development of information technology, VDT workers are increasing rapidly. Physical and mental health symptoms associated with working at visual display terminals (VDTs) are controversial. However, there are few studies about the effect of acupuncture treatment on eye fatigue, neck and shoulder stiffness that many VDT workers have.<BR>Therefore, in this prospective study, we examined the effect of acupuncture treatment for complaints of VDT workers.<BR>[Methods]Sixty-one VDT workers participated as subjects (41 males, 20 females). Acupuncture sessions were performed once a week for four weeks. Acupuncture points were decided by the patient's muscleskeletal distress.<BR>Disposable press tack needles were used. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to determine eye fatigue, neck and shoulder stiffness. Improvements of each VAS were evaluated. Then we analyzed improvement on shoulder and neck stiffness associated with eye fatigue.<BR>[Results]The neck and shoulder distress of patients was reduced in four weeks by acupuncture treatment. A regular correlation between the improvement rate of eye fatigue and neck/shoulder stiffness was observed.<BR>[Conclusion]The neck and shoulder stiffness was improved by acupuncture treatment. According to improved symptoms, eye fatigue was mitigated as well. Thus it was suggested that utility of acupuncture is high in the field of industrial medicine.
ABSTRACT
[Purpose]The purpose of this paper is to examine whether or not the Press Tack Needle (PTN) treatment enhances the recovery process from muscle fatigue which assists in the therapeutic exercise rehabilitation process. By using the PTN, this paper investigates the recovery effect of the fatigued muscle. Randomized controlled trials were used to compare outcomes. <BR>[Method]Twenty-nine healthy male adults were chosen as subjects. However, crossover study was used to compare the PTN group and the sham group. After two sets of arm curl exercises with isotonic contraction at 10%weight of maximum voluntary contraction, the decrease percentage of exercise repetition was calculated. A PTN or sham was inserted at the posterior cervical region using the double masking method. After the intervention of the PTN or sham needle, the subjects were asked which intervention was inserted into them. A Kappa statistics value was used to evaluate the validity of the sham group and a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to determine the upper arm fatigue. <BR>[Result]The Kappa statistic value was 0.17. The decrease percentage of the exercise repetition of the PTN group was 35.4±20.1%, and of the sham group was 45.1±11.1%. The PTN group indicated a significantly smaller percentage than the sham group (p<0.01). Both groups showed no difference in Upper arm fatigue. <BR>[Conclusion]The PTN seems to help in recovery from muscle fatigue. It is thought that by inserting the PTN, somato-automomic reflex was induced to promote the increase of blood flow in to the muscle. Faster recovery of physical function of the patient can be possible as well as the improvement of QOL. In conclusion, this investigation showed that the PTN treatment method can be useful in assisting in therapeutic exercise rehabilitation.
ABSTRACT
Lately, many people from children to elderly people are playing sports. Society is in need of safer and more comfortable sporting environment, not only for competitive sports, but also for recreational sports. The themes of acupuncture and moxibustion of the field of sports are treatments of sports injuries, keeping the physical condition of the athlete, preventing life-style related diseases and competition performance improvement of the athletes. At this symposium, we reported the present conditions of the study of sports acupuncture and moxibustion. It is summarized as follows:<BR> 1) Press tack needles relieve muscle fatigue that occurs during a long-term training camp,<BR> 2) Acupuncture inhibits the fall of the immune function resulting from high extreme exercise,<BR> 3) Electroacupuncture can relieve disused muscle atrophy of mice,<BR> 4) Press tack needles are effective in acute muscle fatigue and delayed onset muscle soreness, and<BR> 5) The M-Test is effective in estimating performance improvement and preventing sports injuries.
ABSTRACT
[Objective] To examine the effect of press tack needle (PTN) treatment on muscle soreness after triathlon race in a placebo (P) -controlled study.<BR>[Method] Subjects were 149 healthy triathletes randomly divided into 2 groups, PTN group and P group. PTN and P were placed on the L 3 to S 2 dermatome area (BL23, BL24, BL25, BL26 and BL32) only during the race. The visual analog scale (VAS) was used to measure muscle soreness at 6 points (Quads, Hamstrings, Calves, Tibialis anteriors, Glutes and lower back). Measurements were obtained before the race (PRE), after the race (POST1), and on the day after the race (POST2) to evaluate the effect of PTN treatment.<BR>[Results] Each VAS score was increased on POST1 compared to that on PRE (p<0.01) for both groups. With PTN treatment, VAS scores were decreased on POST2 compared to those on POST1 except for Glutes (p<0.01, p<0.05), and had recovered to the PRE-race condition. In the P group, VAS score of the hamstrings was decreased on POST2 compared to that on POST1, while VAS scores were significantly higher than those on PRE for Quad, Hamstrings, and Calves.<BR>[Conclusion] It is suggested that PTN stimulation during triathlon race suppresses delayed-onset muscle sore-ness.
ABSTRACT
[Objective] This study examined the effect of press tack needle (PTN) treatment onshoulder stiffness.<BR>[Method] A total of 53 volunteers with shoulder stiffness were randomly divided into 2 groups, the press tack needlegroup and placebo (P) group. The points stimulated by PTN or P were a maximum of 4 tender points around the shoulder treated for 3 days. Evaluation of the effect was based on the consciousness of shoulder stiffness and visual analog scale (VAS) estimating the grade of the shoulder stiffness. The evaluations were done in prior to treatment (Pr), immediately after treatment (Post 1), and 3 days after treatment (Post 2).<BR>[Result] As a result, the number of the volunteers reporting awareness of stiff shoulder after 3 days decreased to 12 of28 persons in the PTN group, 23 of 25 in the P group. There was a significant difference between the 2 groups (p<0.01). The VAS value decreased in the PTN group from 52.5±20.7 (Pr) to 40.5±22.4 (Post1), to 342±19.7 (Post2), while in the P group from 55.2±17.5 (Pr) to 46.5±19.7 (Post1) to 45.9±21.7 (Post2). There were significant differences between Pr and Post1 (p<0.05), and between Pr and Post2 (p<0.01) in PTN group.<BR>[Conclusion] It was suggested that PTN stimulation on the tender points improved shoulder stiffness.