Different operation sequences between acupuncture and cupping therapy for lumbar muscle strain with cold and dampness: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the clinical efficacy on lumbar muscle strain with cold and dampness between the different operation sequences of acupuncture and cupping therapy.@*METHODS@#Seventy-six patients with lumbar muscle strain with cold and dampness were randomly divided into an acupuncture + cupping group (A + C group, 38 cases) and a cupping + acupuncture group (C + A group, 38 cases, 1 case dropped off). In the A + C group, cupping therapy was delivered 10 min after the end of treatment with acupuncture, while in the C + A group, acupuncture therapy was exerted 10 min after the end of treatment with cupping. Acupuncture was applied to Mingmen (GV 4), Yaoyangguan (GV 3), ashi point and bilateral Shenshu (BL 23), Dachangshu (BL 25), Weizhong (BL 40) and Yanglingquan (GB 34), and the needles were retained for 30 min in each intervention. Flash cupping was operated along the bilateral sides of the lumbar spine for 3 min, and the cups were retained for 10 min at bilateral Shenshu (BL 23), Dachangshu (BL 25) and ashi points. The intervention was delivered once every two days, 3 times weekly, for 3 weeks totally in each group. The scores of visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI), TCM syndrome score and the mean temperature of the lumbar region before and after treatment were compared between the two groups. The safety and the clinical efficacy were assessed for the interventions of the two groups.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the values before treatment, except for the sleep score of ODI, the VAS scores, ODI scores and TCM syndrome scores were decreased after treatment (P<0.01, P<0.05); while the mean temperature of the lumbar region was increased (P<0.01) in both groups. After treatment, the VAS score and the pain score of ODI in the C + A group were lower than those in the A + C group (P<0.05). The incidence rate of adverse reactions of the C + A group was lower than that of the A + C group (P<0.01). The effective rate in the A+C group was 92.1% (35/38), that in the C+A group was 94.6%(35/37), there was no statistical difference between the two groups (P>0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Different operation sequences between acupuncture and cupping therapy obtain the similar efficacy on lumbar muscle strain with cold and dampness, but cupping therapy delivered prior to acupuncture has certain advantages in relieving pain and improving safety.

Does Motor Control Exercise Decreases Lumbar Pain, Improves Muscle Activity And Regional Function In Individuals With Acute And Sub Acute Non-Specific Low Back Pain

Background: Non-specific low back pain (LBP) is defined as LBP that poses signs and symptoms which cannot be related to a recognizable cause, and Motor Control Exercise (MCE) usually is the choice of treatment for conditioning lumbar muscles for chronic LBP group. Limited information is available regarding their clinical application for participants with acute and sub-acute LBP. Hence, the main aim of this study is to find out this clinical utility. Methods: A quasi-experimental study with 30 participants of less than six weeks and twelve weeks duration of LBP were included in the study and are divided into an experimental and control group. Pain intensity using numeric pain rating scale (NPRS), lumbar range using modified Schober’s test, muscle function using surface electromyography (EMG) and functional disability using Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) were recorded pre and post-treatment. The experimental group received lumbar MCE with general exercises and the control group received only general low back exercises aiming to improve lumbar range and muscle efficiency for six-session spread over three weeks duration along with therapy for pain reduction. Results: Subjects in both experimental & control groups had significant improvement in pain (p<.001) and RMD Questionnaire (P<.001), Lumbar range of motion had improved significantly only in the experimental group (Flexion p<.001, Extension p<.001) compared to control group. Though lumbar muscle activation had improved in both the groups, subjects in the experimental group showed significant and uniform improvement in lumbar muscle activation following MCE than the control group. Conclusion: Motor Control Exercise provides better clinical improvement in pain, lumbar muscle activation and regional functional ability without exacerbating symptoms in subjects with LBP during the acute and sub-acute phase.

Synergistic effect of core strength training and electropuncture for treating lumbar muscle strain in college students / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: The etiology of lumbar muscle strain is unclear, and it is a kind of specific disease. Lumbar muscles strain not only affects quality of life and work, but also causes heavy medical burden and indirect social costs. OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of electropuncture and core strength training on lumbar muscle strain in college students. METHODS: The study was in accordance with the ethics requirements of Guangxi Normal University. Eighty college students with lumbar muscle strain were selected, and they signed the informed consents. The participants were randomized into control group (no intervention), electropuncture group, core strength training group, electropuncture with core strength training group. The intervention time was 7 weeks. The Visual Analogue Scale scores and pain system scores at baseline and after treatment were recorded. The recurrence was measured after 4 months of follow-up. RESULTSANDCONCLUSION: (1) The Visual Analogue Scale scores and pain system scores in the electropuncture, core strength training, and electropuncture with core strength training groups were significantly decreased compared with the baseline scores (P < 0.05). (2) The Visual Analogue Scale scores and pain system scores in the electropuncture, core strength training, and electropuncture with core strength training groups were significantly lower than those in the control group after intervention, and the scores in the electropuncture with core strength training group were significantly lower than those in the electropuncture and core strength training groups (P< 0.05). (3) The healing rate in the core strength training and electropuncture with core strength training groups was significantly higher than that in the electropuncture group, and the treatment efficacy in the core strength training and electropuncture with core strength training groups was significantly superior to the electropuncture group (P＜0.05). (4) The recurrence in the core strength training and electropuncture with core strength training groups was significantly lower than that in the electropuncture group (P＜0.05). (5) These results indicate that electropuncture and core strength training both have certain treatment efficacy for lumbar muscle strain in college students and core strength training is better than electropuncture, with lower recurrence. The synergistic effect of the combination of core strength training and electropuncture for lumbar muscle strain in college students is remarkable.

Factors Associated with Conversion from Conservative to Surgical Treatment in Single-Level Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Patients

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study of prospectively-collected data. OBJECTIVES: To determine the factors associated with conversion from conservative to surgical treatment in single-level lumbar spinal stenosis patients. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Various reports have presented clinical outcomes after the surgical and nonsurgical treatment of spinal stenosis. However, few reports have investigated factors predicting conversion to surgery during the course of conservative treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 40 patients who visited our hospital from May 2010 to May 2015 and were traceable for at least 3 years after being advised to undergo surgery following 3 months of conservative treatment. Of these patients, 20 underwent surgery and 20 did not. We then investigated the factors associated with conversion to surgical treatment. Clinical assessments were conducted using a questionnaire, and the overall area of the spinal canal and the muscle area within the spinal canal were measured using magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: The average area of the spinal canal was 81.40±53.61 mm2 in the surgical group, compared to 127.75±82.55 mm2 in the nonsurgical group (p=0.042). The muscle area in the spinal canal was 5.17±1.30 cm2 in the surgical group, whereas it was 6.40±1.56 cm2 in the nonsurgical group (p=0.010). The patients in the surgical group were more likely to have experienced repetitive strain and to have frequently visited health clubs (p=0.047, p=0.037, respectively). However, regular stretching was more common in the nonsurgical group (p=0.028). CONCLUSIONS: The factors associated with conversion to surgical treatment were a narrow spinal canal, a small muscle area within the spinal canal, visiting health clubs, repetitive sprain, and not stretching. A small muscle area within the spinal canal can be considered as a key factor related to surgical conversion.

The Effect of Lumbar Stability Exercise Program on Sedentary Life Female, Lumbosacral Region Angle, Muscular Strength, Physical Fitness and Pain Scale / 대한스포츠의학회지

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of lumbar stabilization exercise on lumbosacral region angle, lumbar strength, lower muscle strength, physical fitness, and low back pain of sedentary women. Twenty females who spend more than 6 hours a day as sedentary at working were recruited. The subjects were assigned to two different groups which are exercise group (n=10) and non-exercise group (n=10). Exercise program was consisted with Swiss ball and lumber stability exercise, and it was performed 60 min/day and 3 times/wk for 8 weeks. Two-way analysis of variance was conducted to analyze experimental data. As a result, there was no significant difference between groups in lumbar lordosis angle and lumbar sacral angle. However, Isometric lumbar extension strength, isokinetic knee flexion and extension peak torque in angular velocity were significantly different between groups, and the pain was reduced. To conclude, this study identified the effectiveness of lumbar stabilization exercise on lumbar muscular, strength, Sargent jump, sit and reach test and reduced pain.

Comparison of Ultrasonography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Measurement of Lumbar Muscles / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonography measurement of peri-lumbar muscle atrophy which is thought to be a cause of low back pain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-two patients (44 males, 38 females) who visited Wonkang University Hospital from March, 2015 to August, 2015 complaining of lumbar back pain and underwent lumbar MRI were enrolled in this study. Cross section area (CSAMRI) and muscle thickness (MTMRI) of psoas major (PS) and lumbar extensor (LM) located on both sides of L4/5 and L3/4 was measured by MRI, and sono measurement of thickness of the same muscle (MTUS) at the same level of that MRI measurement were analyzed. RESULTS: In correlation analysis of PS CSAMRI and PS MTUS is the correlation coefficient of L4/5 was 0.136 (p=0.64), L3/4 right (Rt) was 0.070 (p=0.81), and L3/4 left (Lt) was 0.288 (p=0.32). PS CSAMRI at L4/5 Rt showed that correlation coefficient of PS MTUS showed a positive correlation to 0.559 (p=0.04). In analysis of the PS MTMRI and PS MTUS, the correlation coefficient of L4/5 Rt was measured by a 0.316 (p=0.27), L4/5 Lt was 0.022 (p=0.94), L3/4 Rt was 0.236 (p=0.41), and L3/4 Lt did not show a significant result with 0.287 (p=0.31). In the results of correlation analysis of the LM MTMRI and LM MTUS, the correlation coefficient of L4/5 Rt was 0.207 (p=0.49), L4/5 Lt was 0.051 (p=0.86), and L3/4 was Rt 0.048 (p=0.87), L3/4 Lt did not show a significant value with 0.154 (p=0.61). CONCLUSION: This study proved that muscle volume obtained from ultrasono is effective for evaluation of cross-sectional area of lumbar muscle.

Multicenter clinical study on Yaotongning Capsule in treatment of lumbar muscle fiber inflammation / 中草药

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of Yaotongning Capsule in acute lumbar muscle fiber inflammation (cold damp stagnation syndrome). Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled multicenter and clinical trial was performed. The 144 patients were randomly divided into two groups, 72 cases in the treatment group treated with Yaotongning Capsule and 72 cases in the control group treated with placebo, 14 d as a course of treatment. Results: After one course of treatment, there was significant difference in the curative rate between treatment group and control group. According to FAS analysis, the ratio of control/effective cases and total cases (effective rate) in the treatment group was higher than that in the control group (P < 0.001). According to PPS analysis, the effective rate of the treatment group was obviously higher than that of the control group (P < 0.001). The pain relief of FAS and PPS in the treatment group also surpasses that in the control group (P < 0.001). And the differences both had statistical significance. Among 144 patients, the adverse events were found in three cases with the incidence of 2.10%. All of the adverse events were found in the control group and there were no remarkable adverse event and side effect in the treatment group. The incidence rate of adverse event in the treatment group was similar to that in the control group (P = 0.245). Conclusion: Yaotongning Capsule for lumbar muscle fiber inflammation has reliable efficacy, safety, and less incident of adverse effects.

Choice of Resistance Amount for Lumbar Muscles' Coordination Test / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective To explore the effect of different resistance amount on the reliability of the lumbar muscles' coordination test. Methods 30 young male adults participated the lumbar muscles' coordination test twice within 1 week by the same tester. In each test, the subjects took 5 kg, 10 kg and 15 kg of resistance randomly. The index included mean of concentric motion, deviation of concentric motion, mean of eccentric motion and deviation of eccentric motion. Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) for these 4 test results were applied to evaluate the reliability of those tests. Results The ICCs of the 4 test results were 0.303, 0.500, 0.358 and 0.360 respectively in the 5 kg of re-sistance group, 0.449, 0.382, 0.365 and 0.272 respectively in the 10 kg of resistance group, and 0.453, 0.442, 0.614 and 0.411 respectively in the 15 kg of resistance group. Conclusion The test-retest reliability can be satisfied in the lumbar muscles' coordination test with 15 kg of re-sistance.

Clinical observation of lumbar muscle strain treated by Biqi Capsule / 中华中医药杂志

Objective:To study curative effect of Biqi Capsule on lumbar muscle strain. Methods:120 patients who meet the full diagnostic criteria were grouped into the treatment group (66 patients) and the control group (54 patients) at random. The treatment group was treated with Biqi Capsule per os,while the control group was treated with western medicine Composite Chlorzozazone tablets per os.The comprehensive curative effects on the two groups were summarized.Results:The total effective rate of the treatment group and the control group were 92.4% and 79.6% respectively;No significant differences in two groups in statistics (P=0.06).The VAS score of the treatment group and the control group were (0.95?1.63) and (1.83?2.39) respectively.The curative effect was found to be better in the treatment group than that in the control group (P