Abstract
M.Tech. (Chiropractic)
Introduction: Myofascial pain syndrome is often seen in clinical practice as a cause for pain. It is characterized as a dull ache to a burning pain that can cause referral of pain to other areas of the body (Travell and Simons, 1999). One method used to treat this, is by dry-needling therapy (DNT). DNT has proved to be effective in the treatment of myofascial pain, but it has shown to cause post needling soreness. This soreness discourages many patients from receiving further dry-needling or treatment (Kamanli et al. 2005).
Ways to help alleviate post-soreness are heat, stretching, ultrasound and application of pressure (Fleckenstein et al. 2010). All these modalities are done after the needle has been removed. This then adds an extra modality to the treatment as well as increased treatment time; therefore these modalities are often skipped by practitioners (Hong, 1994). Another factor to look at is that many of these modalities have not been researched objectively for effectiveness on relieving the post-needling soreness (Kamanli et al. 2005).
Using a moxi cigar, placed on top of the acupuncture needle whilst inserted into the active trigger point is a way in which heat as a modality to treat post-needling soreness can be combined into the needling time.
Aim of study: The aim was to investigate if heat conduction using a moxi cigar is an effective modality in alleviating post-needling soreness when treating myofascial pain syndrome with DNT.
Methodology: The trial comprised of 90 participants divided randomly into three equal groups. Group 1 received DNT of active trigger point 1 of the trapezius muscle only. Group 2 received DNT of active trigger point 1 of the trapezius muscle, with the addition of the burning moxi cigar to conduct heat through the acupuncture needle to the trigger point. Group 3 received DNT of active trigger point 1 of the trapezius muscle, followed by 5 minutes of ultrasound therapy over the acupoint. Each participant was treated once with readings being recorded pre-treatment, post-treatment and then final readings were taken 24 hours post-treatment.
Subjective data was in the form of a numerical pain scale questionnaire and a pain diary. Objective data was CROM and algometer readings.
Data analysis: data collected by the researcher was analyzed with the help of a statistician at STATKON at the University of Johannesburg. After consultation, it was concluded that results would be analyzed using Shapiro-Wilk test for normality and Levene’s test for equal variances. For all objective data collected, parametric testing would be used on objective data. The parametric tests used were: One way Anova and Post Hoc test. For subjective data, non-parametric testing was used on subjective data namely: Kruskal Wallis, Wilcoxon-signed rank and Mann-Whitney U test.
Conclusion: Based on the results, clinically, the study showed that dry needling with the addition of ultrasound or moxibustion, as a treatment for post-needling soreness did appear to have better results. The use of these two added modalities did ease post-needling soreness which for many patients is the reason they don’t wish to receive further dry-needling treatment. When using moxibustion the post-needling soreness is eased.
This added treatment can be used during the dry needling and does not require additional treatment time for the practitioner or for the patient. To conclude, the efficacy of using a moxibustion to alleviate post-needling soreness has been seen clinically. This treatment can be used with minimal addition treatment time and could be used in clinical practice.