Clinical Observation on Treatment of Chronic Non-specific Low Back Pain with Internal Heat Acupuncture Combined with Muscle Energy Technique

YIN Ling; MA Liangfei; YAN Xiaoqin; ZHAO Yufeng

doi:10.16295/j.cnki.0257-358x.2023.12.012

Abstract：Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy of internal heat needle release technique combined with muscle energy therapy(MET)in the treatment of chronic non-specific lower back pain(CNSLBP).Methods:One hundred cases of CNSLBP from June 2020 to August 2021 were randomly divided into 50 cases in experimental group(3 cases dropped out)and 50 cases in control group(5 cases dropped out).The control group received MET treatment once a day and 5 times a week.The experimental group received the same MET treatment as the control group,and further received internal heat acupuncture treatment before the first and eighth day of intervention.The two groups were intervened for a total of 2 weeks.Visual analog scale(VAS)score,Japanese Orthopedic Association Assessment Treatment(JOA)score,and Oswestry dysfunction index(ODI)score before intervention were measured on the 8th and 15th days of intervention,and at the 3rd and 6th months after intervention.Laboratory examinations were conducted before and after the intervention to measure levels of serum substance P(SP),CXCL10,and semaphore 3A(Sema 3A);Also,magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)was conducted and fat infiltration rate(FSF)of the multifidus muscle was calculated.Results:The VAS scores of the experimental group were lower than those of the control group on the 15th day of intervention,3 months and 6 months after the end of intervention;JOA scores of experimental group were higher than those of control group at 3 and 6 months after the end of the intervention;ODI scores in experimental group were lower than those in control group on the 8th and 15th day of intervention,as well as 3 and 6 months after the end of intervention.In terms of multifidus muscle FSF and laboratory indicators,experimental group had higher levels of multifidus muscle FSF,CXCL10,Sema3A than control group(P＜0.05),but there was no significant difference in SP between control group and experimental group(P＜0.05).Conclusion:The combination of internal heat needle release technique and MET in the treatment of CNSLBP can effectively alleviate pain and dysfunction in patients,improve fat infiltration in the multifidus muscle,and related laboratory indicators,with significant effect.