Comparing complementary alternative treatment for chronic shoulder pain of myofascial origin: Collateral meridian therapy versus local tender area-related meridians therapy.

The aim of this study was to compare the short-term outcomes between 2 different treatments for unilateral chronic shoulder pain of myofascial origin, that is, local tender area related meridians (LTARMs) treatment and collateral meridian therapy (CMT), which were performed 6 times over a period of 4 weeks.Seventy patients with unilateral shoulder pain of chronic myofascial origin were enrolled. The patients were randomly assigned to 2 different treatment groups: 1 group received CMT (n = 35) and the other received LTARM (n = 35). Before and after the 2 treatment processes, all patients rated their overall pain intensity on a visual analogue scale (VAS) and a validated 13-question shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI) questionnaire was used to measure shoulder pain and functional impairment after therapy for 4 weeks.After CMT, the pain intensity was reduced after CMT. VAS score is reduced from 5.90 ±â€Š2.07 (a mean of 5.90 and standard deviation of 2.07) to 3.39 ±â€Š1.2. This was verified by the SPADI pain subscale scores (from 0.58 ±â€Š0.193 to 0.33 ±â€Š0.14). The pain-relief effect of CMT was significantly better than that of LTARM (VAS score from 5.78 ±â€Š1.64 to 4.58 ±â€Š1.40; P < 0.005; SPADI pain subscale score from 0.58 ±â€Š0.16 to 0.45 ±â€Š0.14, P < 0.001). In addition, the VAS scores of patients changed considerably in the CMT group after 4 weeks of treatment, where 63% of patients felt no or mild pain, whereas the VAS scores for moderate pain were even higher in the LTARM group in 75% of patients (P < 0.001). Moreover, the SPADI disability subscale scores improved significantly in the CMT group because of their greater mobility associated with shoulder impairment (disability score: from 0.58 ±â€Š0.20 to 0.35 ±â€Š0.14) than those in the LTARM group (disability score: from 0.55 ±â€Š0.17 to 0.44 ±â€Š0.14, P < 0.001).CMT may be more effective in reducing chronic shoulder pain of myofascial origin than the LTARM treatment, where treatment with the former resulted in better functional recovery after 4 weeks than the latter.

The therapeutic effect of collateral meridian therapy is comparable to acupoint pressure therapy in treating myofascial pain syndrome.

PURPOSE: This study compared the therapeutic effects of collateral meridian therapy (CMT) with traditional acupoint pressure therapy (APT) in patients with unilateral upper back pain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-nine patients with active myofascial trigger points in upper trapezius muscle were randomly allocated to the control (CTL), APT, or CMT group. Each subject in the CMT and APT groups received 2 sessions of treatment per week over 1 month. RESULTS: Patients in the APT and CMT groups showed significant improvements 1 month after treatment in visual analogue scale, range of motion, pain pressure threshold, regional superficial blood flow, and physical health, as compared to the CTL group. No significant differences in outcome measures were found between APT and CMT groups 1 month after treatment. CONCLUSION: Both APT and CMT have comparable therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of unilateral upper back pain with active myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle.

The effects of collateral meridian therapy for knee osteoarthritis pain management: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this preliminary study was to examine whether collateral meridian (CM) therapy was feasible in treating knee osteoarthritis (OA) pain. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with knee OA and knee pain were randomly allocated to 2 groups. The CM group patients received CM therapy, whereas the control patients received placebo treatment for knee pain relief. Patients in the CM group received 2 CM treatments weekly for 3 weeks. The outcome measures were pain intensity on a visual analog scale, and knee function was determined using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index. RESULTS: In the CM group, the posttreatment visual analog scale and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index scores were lower than those of the control group; a significant reduction in pain intensity (P = .02, P = .01, respectively) and improvement in knee function (P = .04, P = .03, respectively) were shown in the CM group at the second and third week. CONCLUSION: Collateral meridian therapy may be feasible and effective for knee OA pain relief and knee function recovery. Therefore, additional randomized control trials are warranted.

Successful treatment of primary dysmenorrhea by collateral meridian acupressure therapy.

OBJECTIVES: This case report describes the observation of relief from painful dysmenorrhea and its associated symptoms in a female patient having primary dysmenorrhea after collateral meridian acupressure therapy (CMAT) treatment. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 36-year-old female patient presented with primary dysmenorrhea (abdominal cramping and referred lower back pain). She previously had taken oral analgesic pills to alleviate her symptoms during the menstrual period. The observation period was 6 months. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: Collateral meridian acupressure therapy was performed once on the second day of both the first (partial treatment) and fourth (complete treatment) menstrual period. Pain was resolved immediately after partial CMAT treatment during the first menstrual period, but the pain recurred 20 minutes later. Satisfactory results were obtained during the fourth menstrual period after complete CMAT treatment, which were also carried over to the next session (fifth menstrual period). In addition, no oral analgesics were necessary after treatment. However, the symptoms of dysmenorrhea recurred 2 months after treatment (sixth menstrual period). CONCLUSION: This case report indicates that CMAT treatment may be effective in relieving the associated symptoms of dysmenorrhea. The carryover effect might suggest that there is a potential to produce a long-lasting effect on dysmenorrhea.

Shoulder tip pain after laparoscopic surgery analgesia by collateral meridian acupressure (shiatsu) therapy: a report of 2 cases.

OBJECTIVES: This article describes 2 cases of collateral meridian acupressure (shiatsu) therapy (CMAT) for treatment of shoulder tip pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Both cases showed marked pain relief with reduction of skin temperature (1 degrees C) of the affected shoulder after CMAT. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 32- and a 53-year-old female presented with right shoulder tip pain after LC surgery. The repeated dose of intravenous ketorolac 30 mg and meperidine 50 mg did not improve the pain. Because of persistent pain and episodes of nausea and vomiting after intravenous nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and opioid medications, patients refused to take more analgesics, and we were consulted for pain management. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: After informed written consent obtained, CMAT was performed using acupoints located on the contralateral (left) kidney meridian to treat affected (right) shoulder pain. Postoperatively, patients' pain intensity was measured using a numeric pain scale. The infrared thermography of shoulder tip was obtained before and after the CMAT. Both patients reported immediate pain relief after the CMAT, with pain scores decreased from 5 to 1 of 10 and 5 to 0 of 10, respectively. Moreover, the local skin temperature of affected shoulders were significantly decreased in both patients after the CMAT. Similarly, the temperature difference between patients' affected and nonpainful shoulders were also significant after the CMAT. CONCLUSION: The results of these 2 cases suggest that the CMAT may be effective in reducing patients' post-LC shoulder tip pain without medication. An associated reduction of skin temperature of the painful shoulder with CMAT warrants further investigation.