Buccal acupuncture combined with ultrasound-guided dry needle-evoked inactivation of trigger points to treat cervical and shoulder girdle myofascial pain syndrome

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Shan, Hai-Hua^{a; 1} | Chen, Hong-Fang^{a; 1} | Lu, Xiang-Hong^{b; 1} | Zhang, Xin-Mei^b | Liu, Si-Lan^{b; *} | Chang, Xiao-Lan^{b; *} | Ni, Hong-Yan^{c; *} | Gou, Xiao-Jun^d

Affiliations: [a] Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China | [b] Department of Anesthesiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China | [c] Department of Anesthesiology and Pain, Siyang County People’s Hospital, Suqian, Jiangsu, China | [d] Central Laboratory, Baoshan District Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine of Shanghai, Shanghai, China

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding authors: Si-Lan Liu and Xiao-Lan Chang, Anesthesia Surgery Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Suzhou University, 899 Pinghai Road, Gusu District, Suzhou City, Jiangsu 215006, China. E-mail: [email protected],DepartmentofAnesthesiology and Pain,SiyangCountyPeople’sHospital,Suqian,Jiangsu,China.

Note: [1] These authors contributed equally to this work and should be considered co-first authors.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a common disease with easy persistence and recurrence. In clinical practice, although many methods have been adopted to prevent and treat MPS, the control of MPS is still not satisfactory. OBJECTIVE: To compare the safety and effectiveness of buccal acupuncture, inactivation of trigger points (MTrPs), and their combination in the treatment of MPS. METHODS: Two hundred MPS patients in the pain clinic were randomly divided into four groups (n= 50) to receive oral drugs (Group A), oral drugs + buccal needle (Group B), oral drugs + MTrP inactivation (Group C), or oral drugs + buccal needle + MTrP inactivation (Group D). RESULTS: The visual analogue scale (VAS) and cervical range of motion (ROM) of Group D were significantly lower than those of the other three groups, and the pressure pain threshold (PPT) value of labelled MTrPs was significantly higher than those of the other three groups (P< 0.05). The excellent rate and total effective rate of Group D were significantly higher than those of the other three groups. Group C had the highest pain score and the lowest acceptance score. The results showed that buccal acupuncture combined with ultrasound-guided dry needle-evoked inactivation of MTrPs can significantly reduce the VAS score of MPS patients, improve the range of motion of the cervical spine, and improve patient satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a highly accepted and satisfactory treatment for MPS, which is worthy of clinical promotion.

Keywords: Acupuncture, myofascial pain syndrome, oral drugs, dry needle, pain

DOI: 10.3233/BMR-220321

Journal: Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, vol. 36, no. 5, pp. 1139-1150, 2023