Effect of electroacupuncture on muscle state and infrared thermogram changes in patients with acute lumbar muscle sprain

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on force-displacement value (FDV) of muscle state and the temperature index of infrared thermogram in patients with acute lumbar muscle sprain. METHODS: Patients with acute lumbar muscle sprain were randomly divided into a medication group and an EA group. The medication group (n = 60) were treated with diclofenac sodium dual release enteric-coated capsules, 75 mg per day for 7 days. The EA group (n = 60) received EA at bilateral Houxi (SI 3), Jiaji (EX-B2), and Ashi points, at 20-30 mm depth and 10-25 Hz frequency for 20 min daily for 7 days. Muscle states were determined by measuring FDVs of the bilateral lumbar muscle with a Myotonometer fast muscle state detector. The temperature index of the lumbar skin was measured before and after treatment with a Fluke Ti30 non-refrigerated focal plane infrared thermal imaging detector. RESULTS: There were no significant pre-treatment differences between the medication group and the EA group in mean FDV (P = 0.052) or temperature index of the lumbar skin (P = 0.25). The cure rate was 63.3% in the EA group and 53.3% in the medication group. The total efficacy in the EA group (93.3 %) was not significantly different from that in the medication group (86.6 %, P = 0.204). After treatment, the mean FDV of the lumbar muscle significantly increased in both groups (P < 0.05 for both groups); the FDV increase in the EA group was significantly higher than in the medication group (P = 0.015). The temperature index was also significantly increased in both groups (P < 0.05 for both groups); the infrared thermogram in the EA group indicated significantly greater recovery compared to the medication group (P = 0.026). CONCLUSION: Both EA and diclofenac sodium markedly improved acute lumbar sprain, but EA better improved the rehabilitation and regeneration of FDVs and temperature index of infrared thermogram of the muscle. (C) 2015 JTCM. All rights reserved.