A Case of Pressing Moxibustion and Acupuncture Therapy Treated Acute Back Pain / 日本東洋医学雑誌

ABSTRACT

We report on a case of acute, sport-related back pain treated with pressing moxibustion and acupuncture therapy. A 15-year-old high school freshman fell on his back while shooting a basketball during a game. He felt acute back pain on the second day following his injury. We suspected a fracture and advised him to visit an orthopaedic surgeon, where he was diagnosed with a contusion. Upon return to us, we began acupuncture therapy of his inferior limb acupoints and pressing moxibustion of his contused muscle, while evaluating his pain using a numerical rating scale. He experienced pain relief after the second pressing moxibustion treatment. His numerical pain score changed for the better, and his treatment was ended after the third visit. In cases of pressing moxibustion, moxa sticks are directly pressed onto acupoints protected with non-flammable cloth. In Japan, however, the term moxibustion therapy generally indicates direct moxibustion. Therefore Japanese moxibustion therapists rarely choose the pressing moxibustion therapy option. This case suggests that pressing moxibustion for acute contused wounds or lower back pain is also effective.