| Acupuncture has been one of the methods of pain relief in China for more than5,000years. In Chinese medical theory, there are12meridians that allow blood and energy (Qi) flows. Each of them connects to12different organs inside the human body. According to The Yellow Emperor' s Classic of Internal Medicine, if any of the12organs is diseased, then the illness will be reflected on the skin's surface and at specific acupoints. Therefore, we can use these specific acupoints as diagnostic points and as therapeutic points.Acupressure combines massage and acupuncture theory. It involves the application of finger pressure on acupoints, which is a non-invasive method under the Chinese meridians system. Acupressure therapy, therefore, is considered to be much safer than acupuncture. Acupressure is believed to promote the flow of blood and Qi, which results in the breakdown of blockages along the meridians. Consequently, the balance of energy (Yin-Yang) will be re-established, and the illness will be cured.The Opto-Mechatronic acupressure pen is a microcomputer-based self-administrating acupressure device that was developed and will be used as a tool to apply pressure on acupoints in this study. The device is powered by battery that can be lasted for a month. The optimal parameters for different acupoints are already loaded into its built-in memory. The device is pen-like in appearance and has an LCD display whose menu allows users to select different built-in operation modes that aim to relieve pain. The different preset operation mode can be selected by the user. There are two lines of dot-matrix display, twenty characters each line. Total forty characters can be shown on LCD display. There is a spring installed on the main acupressure head on one end. It is directly connected to the opto-machanical sensor that the signal of force applied will be transferred micro computer for analysis. While the applied force reaches to preset values, the speaker will be alerted.Objective: The aim of this research study is to determine the effects of acupressure on people with chronic low back pain using a purpose-built device.Method:Subjects will be recruited from the Integrative Community Health Centre at Lai King and the campus. They will be selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. This study will be use a randomized control trial design with one experimental group and one control group. Thirty subjects will be recruited in each group, for a total of60subjects. The treatment course will last for two weeks, and there will be five sessions in total.Clinical Study:Experiment1:A study of the effects of acupen on chronic neck/shoulder painThe treatment course last for two to three weeks, and there was five sessions in total. The Neck Disability Index questionnaire were administered in the first and the last session. An acupressure pen were e given to them,. and the researcher guided them to the correct positions of acupoints. The subjects put the acupressure pen on HeGu (LI4), Hou XI (SI3) and Lei Que (LU7). Jian Jing (GB21), Feng Chi (GB20), Jian Wai Shu (SI14) and Jia Ji (EX-B2), and pressed it until the pen beeps. They had to press the pen for three to five minutes until they felt the De Qi sensation. The subjects were asked to perform designated exercises at home during the study period. Neck flexion, extension and blood pressure were recorded each time. For the control group, the same measurements were done in the first and the last sessionbut no acupressure pen is performed.Experiment2:A study of the effects of acupen on chronic lower back painThe treatment course last for two to three weeks, and there was five sessions in total. The Oswestry Low Back Pain Scale questionnaire was administered in the first and the last session. An acupressure pen were given to them and the researcher guided them to the correct positions of acupoints. The subjects put the acupressure pen on HeGu (LI4), Yang LingQuan (GB34), Cheng Shan (BL57), Kun Lun (BL6), San Jiao Shu (UB22), Shen Shu (UB23), Da Chang Shu (UB25), Wei-Zhong (UB20), Yaoyan (Ex-B7) and pressed it until the pen beeps. They had to press the pen for three to five minutes until they felt the De Qi sensation. The subjects were asked to perform designated exercises at home during the study period. The range of motion, lift capacity test and blood pressure were recorded each time. For the control group, the same measurements were done in the first and the last session but no acupressure pen is performed.Result:In first experiment, the main outcome show that show that there is significant difference between the pain score (VAS) reduction on experimental group and control group (p<0.01), where the mean difference is0.88. We also found that there is significant difference between The Neck Pain Index Score on experimental group and control group (p<0.01), where the mean difference is4.98. There is significant difference between The neck flexion on experimental group and control group (p<0.05).For other domains, no significant difference is observedIn second experiment, the main outcome show that show that Results show that there is significant difference between the pain score (VAS) reduction on experimental group and control group (p<0.01), where the mean difference is1.09. For Oswestry Low Back Pain Scale questionnaire, we found that there is significant difference between two groups (p<0.01). For other domains, no significant difference is observed.In our study, we found that acupressure pen have a short term relief of neck pain, especially when combined with exercises. More trials are need to measure the long term effects on neck pain relief and lower back pain relief using acupressure pen.Conclusion:Clinical results from these two projects prove that acupressure pen combined with physical exercise can alleviate the level of pain. But it ha a very short period. Through research of this subject, proved the micro computer controlled acupressure pen on relief shoulder and neck and back pain and provided a lot of valuable data. Manufacturing a low priced, easy to use, non-invasive treatment tool, enable people to enjoy the happiness of healthy life. |
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