Evaluating Acupuncture in Vascular Disorders of the Lower Limb Through Infrared Thermography

Objectives: This study was carried out to evaluate the analgesic effect and the thermal distribution of the treatment through acupuncture in patients with chronic pain and vascular disorders in the lower limbs. Methods: Two female patients undergoing clinical follow-up at the Hospital de Santo Antonio, Portugal. The skin temperature of the lower extremity regions was measured before and after the acupuncture treatment at acupoints B17, BP10, BP6 and IG4, by infrared medical thermography. Thermographic data were analyzed by ThermaCAM Researcher Research Pro (R) 2.10 software, establishing the average temperature in the regions of painful symptoms. Results: When painful symptoms fadeout, the average temperature in the regions of interest has decreased 0.5 degrees C in the Anterior Tibial Muscle, 1.3 degrees C in the Gastrocnemius Muscle, 1.0 degrees C in the Soleus Muscle, in patient 1; and 0.6 degrees C in the anterior Tibial Muscle, in patient 2. Conclusions: Despite the small sample size, it indicates that infrared thermography may be applicable in the area of acupuncture, presenting sensitivity in diagnostic and monitoring the treatment of chronic pain related to vascular disorders in the lower limbs.