A Preliminary Analysis of the Mechanism of Acupuncture at the Myofascial Trigger Points of the Upper Trapezius Muscle on the Immediate Effect of Cervical Sprain
Abstract：Objective: To observe the immediate improvement of indicators in patients with cervical sprain after acupuncture at the myofascial trigger points of the upper trapezius muscle, which induces muscle twitching, and to analyze the possible mechanisms. Methods: A self-controlled before-and-after study was conducted, collecting 12 patients with cervical sprain who visited the Department of Acupuncture at Beijing Century Hospital from March 2021 to August 2021. The changes in visual analogue scale (VAS), range of motion (ROM), and neck disability index (NDI) were observed before and after acupuncture intervention. Results: After treatment, the total effective rate was 83.3%, with no serious adverse reactions, and only one case showed subcutaneous hematoma. After treatment, the VAS, ROM, and NDI scores all decreased immediately, with statistically significant differences (t=7.857, 6.504, 8.468, P<0.05). Conclusion: Acupuncture at the myofascial trigger points that induces muscle twitching has a good immediate effect in relieving cervical sprain. The phenomenon of muscle twitching is considered as the manifestation of 'Qi arrival' in traditional acupuncture. Modern medicine suggests that its mechanism may be related to the activation of calcium ion channels.
Keywords：AcupunctureMyofascial trigger pointTwitching responseDe qiNeedle jump
Publication Date：2025-02-27
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：2( 173-174 )