Comparison between conventional acupuncture and press tuck needle acupuncture for physical and psychological fatigue in office workers / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

[Aim] We compared the effects of acupuncture and press tuck needle (PTN) acupuncture in office workers with physical and psychological fatigue.[Design] A randomized, open-label, parallel-group, comparison study.[Setting] An acupuncture room in the A Clinic within the Kanto Metropolitan Area.[Patients] Clinic workers. The inclusion criteria were 20-45 years of age and awareness of physical and psychological fatigue. The exclusion criteria were fatigue-related diseases and symptoms, medical abnormalities, and history.[Intervention] The subjects were randomly allocated to either the acupuncture treatment group (ACP group) or PTN acupuncture treatment group (PTN group). The interventions were based on acupoints for fatigue symptoms as per previous reports and individualized treatment for physical symptoms, including neck and lower back pain, among others, and were performed twice a week for one month.[Evaluation methods] The visual analog scale (VAS) scores were the primary method for evaluating for physical and psychological fatigue at four weeks post-treatment. Other forms of measurement used were the VAS scores within groups immediately after treatment and to evaluate physical health, the Health Perceptions Questionnaire, General Health Questionnaire-12, and Short Form-36 responses; and salivary amylase levels were used.[Results] Thirteen of 14 subjects in the ACP group and 13 of 15 in the PTN group were included in the analysis. There was no significant difference between the groups for VAS scores. Evaluation, immediately before and after the intervention showed a significant decrease in VAS scores for physical fatigue in both groups. The ACP group showed a greater immediate change than the PTN group. In a comparison within each group, the VAS of psychological fatigue in the PTN group showed significant decrease after the eighth treatment.[Conclusions] Acupuncture may immediately improve physical fatigue in office workers. Moreover, the frequency of using PTN acupuncture may eventually decrease physical fatigue. Therefore, acupuncture and PTN acupuncture can help office workers' health.

Psychological and Physical Characteristics of Neck Pain in University Students / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

Objective: Neck pain is a very common complaint in the general population. However, little is known about the characteristics of this complaint. The aim of this study was to clarify the psychological and physical characteristics of neck pain. Method: The subjects were 13 adult men with complaints of neck pain (NP group, mean age 20.2±0.7 years) and 10 healthy volunteers (CON group, mean age 21.2±1.5 years). This study used findings of neck tenderness and muscle stiffness for evaluation of neck pain, and employed the visual analog scale (VAS) to record the subjects’ assessment of their pain. State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), MOS 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), VAS for evaluation of perceived stress, and measurements of salivary cortisol density levels were utilized to measure stress. The salivary cortisol density was measured by the enzyme immunity method of measurement (the ELISA method). In addition, saliva samples were collected between 9 AM to 10 AM. Results: The mean VAS score for neck pain in the NP group was 56.9±17.3. There was no significant difference in muscle stiffness between the groups. Tenderness of the upper trapezius fibers and right splenius capitis muscle were significantly higher in the NP group (p<0.05). The VAS score of perceived stress and the state anxiety of STAI were significantly higher in the NP group (p<0.05). The SF-36 score was significantly lower in the CON group (p<0.05). The trait anxiety of STAI and the salivary cortisol density were not significantly different. Conclusion: There was no significant difference in the salivary cortisol density levels between the two groups. The degrees of perceived stress and uneasiness were reported as higher in the NP group, while the degrees of psychological and physical health were lower. These findings suggest the role of psychosociological factors in neck pain.

Psychological and Physical Characteristics of Neck Pain in University Students / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

<b>Objective</b>: Neck pain is a very common complaint in the general population. However, little is known about the characteristics of this complaint. The aim of this study was to clarify the psychological and physical characteristics of neck pain.<BR><b>Method</b>: The subjects were 13 adult men with complaints of neck pain (NP group, mean age 20.2±0.7 years) and 10 healthy volunteers (CON group, mean age 21.2±1.5 years). This study used findings of neck tenderness and muscle stiffness for evaluation of neck pain, and employed the visual analog scale (VAS) to record the subjects’ assessment of their pain. State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), MOS 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), VAS for evaluation of perceived stress, and measurements of salivary cortisol density levels were utilized to measure stress. The salivary cortisol density was measured by the enzyme immunity method of measurement (the ELISA method). In addition, saliva samples were collected between 9 AM to 10 AM.<BR><b>Results</b>: The mean VAS score for neck pain in the NP group was 56.9±17.3. There was no significant difference in muscle stiffness between the groups. Tenderness of the upper trapezius fibers and right splenius capitis muscle were significantly higher in the NP group (p<0.05). The VAS score of perceived stress and the state anxiety of STAI were significantly higher in the NP group (p<0.05). The SF-36 score was significantly lower in the CON group (p<0.05). The trait anxiety of STAI and the salivary cortisol density were not significantly different.<BR><b>Conclusion</b>: There was no significant difference in the salivary cortisol density levels between the two groups. The degrees of perceived stress and uneasiness were reported as higher in the NP group, while the degrees of psychological and physical health were lower. These findings suggest the role of psychosociological factors in neck pain.

Characteristics of Shoulder Periarthritis Patients Developing Articular Contracture during Acupuncture Therapy / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

 Forty-one patients with periarthritis with no evident articular contracture at the start of acupuncture (at the first presentation) were divided into 13 subjects who developed articular contracture during acupuncture (transition group) and 28 subjects who did not (non-transition group), and the clinical characteristics of the two groups were compared.  The following results were obtained. (1) The mean age of the subjects was significantly higher in the transition group than in the non-transition group (58.5±6.8 years vs. 52.1±9.6 years). (2) The percentage of subjects in the transition group was significantly higher in the subjects not clearly diagnosed as having no contracture at the first presentation than clearly diagnosed as no contracture (57% vs. 19%). (3) The percentage of subjects in the transition group was significantly higher in the subjects in whom the lesion site was enlarged or could not be identified than independent (50% vs. 17%). (4) The percentage of subjects in the transition group was significantly higher in the subjects with nocturnal pain than without (64% vs. 15%). (5) The transition group was unlikely to show improvement of pain or restriction of the range of motion with acupuncture as compared to the non-transition group.  The possibility of developing articular contracture should be considered while providing treatment by acupuncture and guidance to patients showing the above tendencies.

Characteristics of Shoulder Periarthritis Patients Developing Articular Contracture during Acupuncture Therapy / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

 Forty-one patients with periarthritis with no evident articular contracture at the start of acupuncture (at the first presentation) were divided into 13 subjects who developed articular contracture during acupuncture (transition group) and 28 subjects who did not (non-transition group), and the clinical characteristics of the two groups were compared.<br> The following results were obtained. (1) The mean age of the subjects was significantly higher in the transition group than in the non-transition group (58.5±6.8 years vs. 52.1±9.6 years). (2) The percentage of subjects in the transition group was significantly higher in the subjects not clearly diagnosed as having no contracture at the first presentation than clearly diagnosed as no contracture (57% vs. 19%). (3) The percentage of subjects in the transition group was significantly higher in the subjects in whom the lesion site was enlarged or could not be identified than independent (50% vs. 17%). (4) The percentage of subjects in the transition group was significantly higher in the subjects with nocturnal pain than without (64% vs. 15%). (5) The transition group was unlikely to show improvement of pain or restriction of the range of motion with acupuncture as compared to the non-transition group.<br> The possibility of developing articular contracture should be considered while providing treatment by acupuncture and guidance to patients showing the above tendencies.

The objective analysis of pulse diagnosis. (2) / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

One of the characteristics of the diagnostic method in Oriental medicine is a pulse diagnosis. In this technique, the examiner places his index, middle and ring fingers on the wrist of the patient's hand above the radial artery and determines the fullness or emptiness of the six Meridians on each hand. In order to make this subjective method more objective, three pressure transducer sensors were placed over the radial artery and its method was previously described.<br>In this study, we used this objective pulse diagnosis and selected the proper Meridian points according to 5 element theory and improper points without considering it. Then we investigated the changes of the pain threshold by the thermo-dolorimetric method before and after the acupuncture stimulation.<br>An allergic patient who developed athmatic attack by many drugs was going to have nasal polypectomy. Acupuncture points were selected by this pulse diagnosis. 9 healthy volunteers were examined whether five element or non-five element points would elevate pain threshold.<br>Results<br>(1) The elevation of pain threshold by thermo-dolorimetric method before and after the acupuncture stimulation were observed only when the proper Meridian points were stimulated.<br>(2) Nasal polypectomy was performed under acupuncture analgesia without pain following the selection of 5 element points by this objective pulse diagnosis.

The Objective Analysis of Pulse Diagnosis / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

One of the idiosyncracies of Oriental medicine is pulse diagnosis, the detailed stipulation of the pulse of the radial artery from which fullness or emptiness as described in JUNIKEIRAKU one manifestation of the general physical and pathological condition of the body is determined and the treatment points along the meridians, that is the appropriate acupoints decided. In this diagnostic technique the examiner places his index, middle and ring fingers on the wrist of the patient's hand above the radial pulse and by applying weak or strong pressure compares the largeness or smallness of the pulse under each finger tip and so doing determines the fullness or emptiness of the six meridians on each side or the 12 meridians on both sides.<br>In order to make this subjective method of fingertip touch diagnosis objective we used a fingertip size transducer and developed a way of measuring and recording pressure fluctuation changes resulting from the various absolute pressures exerted by the fingertips of the examiner.<br>Method:<br>The pressure transducer used was a semi-conductor curve gauge, 8mm. in diameter capable of indicating up to 500g/cm² of direct loaded pressure. The input from this one pressure inducer was amplified through different amplifiers, the absolute pressure from DC conversion in one amp, and the pressure variation component from AC conversion in another amp. It was assumed that the pressure load in pulse diagnosis was 100g/cm² for floating pulse, 200g/cm² for sunken pulse and in the pressure variation component deficiency was below 5g/cm² and excess 15g/cm², and evaluated accordingly.<br>Subjects:<br>Pre-surgery patients and pain complaint outpatients were used as subjects. Measurements was recorded.<br>Results:<br>1. In most of the cases pulse diagnosis at the 6 areas above the radial artery revealed that centered on the styloid process at areas approximately 1cm. apart different pressure variations were observed.<br>2. Measurement of the pulse of a pre-surgery stomach cancer patient revealed Stomach and Heart Constructor Excess when the patient was in a reclining position however this reading changed with changes in posture. When the patient assumed a sitting position the pulse showed Stomach Excess however the pressure variation of the Heart Cosntructor decreases.<br>3. The pressure variation components vary with acupuncture stimulation.<br>4. In our experience we observed cases in which excess or deficiency of the various meridians varied due to acupuncture stimulation. These variations obeyed the laws of “creation and harming” of the 5 Elements Theory.