RESUMO
Objective:To observe the effect of needle-embedding therapy (press needle) combined with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on pain and motor function in patients with nonspecific neck pain. Methods:From July, 2016 to September, 2017, 80 patients with nonspecific neck pain were randomly divided into control group and treatment group, with 40 cases in each group. The treatment group was treated with press needle combined with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, while the control group was treated with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation only, seven times per week for two weeks. They were assessed with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Neck Disability Index (NDI), neck range of motion and neck muscle average electromyography (EMG) before treatment, at the end of treatment, and one-month and six-month followup. Results:All 80 patients completed the treatment and follow-up. After treatment, the scores of VAS and NDI decreased in both groups (t >1.731, P < 0.05), and were lower in the treatment group than in the control group (t > 0.236, P < 0.05); the neck range of motion increased in both groups (P < 0.05), and no difference was found between two groups (P > 0.05); the average EMG value of the neck muscles decreased in both groups (P < 0.05), and were less in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion:The press needle combined with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation was more effective on nonspecific neck pain than transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation only, and no adverse reaction was observed during the treatment.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Shoichi Kokubun introduced his successful experience with local anesthetic injection at the occipital insertion of the sternocleidomastoid muscle in K-point syndrome. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term and long-term effectiveness of K-point injection and investigate factors affecting treatment results. METHODS: K-point injection was performed in 58 patients with K-point syndrome at Yeungnam University Medical Center. The syndrome was associated with cervical whiplash injury in 10 patients and was of nonspecific origin in the rest. One milliliter of 2% lidocaine mixed with 1 milliliter of dexamethasone was injected in 50 patients and 2 milliliters of 1% lidocaine alone in the rest. Initially, the severity of local tenderness at the K-point and other tender points was examined and the degree of immediate pain relief effect was assessed within 1 hour after injection. Early effect within 1 month after the injection and current effect were evaluated in 27 patients using a modified Kim's questionnaire with regard to the duration of improvement, degree of improvement in pain and daily living activities, and satisfaction. RESULTS: Of the total 58 patients, 44 (75.8%) apparently had immediate pain relief after K-point injection. The only factor associated with successful immediate pain relief was the whiplash injury associated with traffic accident (TA). The early pain control effect was associated with the immediate effect. The current effect was associated with the early effect alone. Satisfaction with the K-point injection was related to early successful pain relief. CONCLUSIONS: K-point injection would be useful for early pain relief in nonspecific neck pain syndrome so called K-point syndrome, but not for current pain relief. Especially, it was very effective for early pain control in the whiplash injury associated with TA.