Analysis Of Distribution Law Of KOA By Reinforcement By Infrared Thermography

Purpose：The Purpose of this study is to detect surface range of muscle meridians aroundthe knee with the help of infra-red thermal imaging technique, to explore thetemperature distribution law of focus along muscle meridian on KOA patients bycomparing with normal people, to provide definitive evidence for thestandardization research of KOA palpation along muscle meridian, and thus toground the improvement and enhancement of diagnosis and treatment therapy.Materials and methods：Normal subjects and KOA subjects were compared in the aspect of surface infra-redthermal image on muscle meridian around the knee.167knees of100KOA subjectswere randomly selected from clinically confirmed KOA patients, among whom theyoungest was42years old and the oldest was69; in the community,200kneesof100normal volunteers were selected from people, without relative disease,among whom the youngest was40and the oldest was70. First, under the guidanceof Muscle Meridian Theory, the location and frequency of muscle meridian focuswere recorded with the help of palpation according to anatomical characteristicof muscle meridian focus. Then, quantified infra-red thermal image comparisonwere taken between the muscle meridian points and muscle meridian focus, betweenaffected and unaffected sides within patients with one affected side, as wellas between muscle meridian part on subjects from different groups, in aspectof surface temperature.Results：1.After muscle meridian A-shi point palpation, it was found that the focus alongMuscle Meridian of Foot-Yangming are: inner-lower patella (95.21%), lowerpatella (91.62%), medial tibial condyle (89.82%), sub-ST30(71.86%), sub-GB28 (68.86%), sub-LR11(64.67%); muscle meridian focus along Muscle Meridian ofFoot-Taiyang are: sub-BL39(77.25%) and lateral BL57(70.66%); muscle meridianfocus along muscle meridian of Foot-Shaoyang are: sub-Yaoyi (81.44%), Pishu(77.84%), sub-Zhongkong (77.25%), sub-Jiankua (71.86%); muscle meridian Taiyinof foot is upper Yinling (69.46%); and that muscle meridian of Foot-Jueyin issub-LR7(61.68%). More than60%of the patients felt pain along muscle meridian.The proportion of focus along specific muscle meridians are: Muscle Meridianof Foot-Yangming,43.50%; of Foot-Taiyang,17.22%; of Foot-Shaoyang,24.06%andthe three Yin Muscle Meridians,15.22%.2.The study shows that, on KOA patients, the surface temperature are relativelyhigh (P<0.05) on muscle meridian focus, namely sub-ST36(33.91±1.90℃),sub-tubercle of tibia (33.35±1.12℃), sub-ST41(32.32±1.58℃), sub-EX13(31.09±1.34℃) and inner-upper patella(31.16±1.27℃) along Muslce Meridianof Foot-Yangming, upper-SP9(33.62±0.89℃) and sub-SP10(32.37±1.43℃) alongMuscle Meridian of Foot-Taiyin, as well as sub-BL39(34.27±1.03℃) and sub-BL56(33.14±1.30℃).3.In aspect of temperature along Muscle Meridian of Foot-Yangming and that ofFoot-Taiyin, the patients was obviously higher than that of the normal (P<0.05).4.There is relatively higher surface temperature (P<0.05) on sub-ST36(34.29±2.06℃), tibial tubercle (33.14±1.03℃), sub-ST41(32.38±1.53℃),sub-EX-LE2(30.78±1.30℃), and inner-upper patella (31.28±1.40℃) alongMuscle Meridian of Foot-Yangming, upper SP9(33.43±0.70℃), and sub-SP10(32.56±1.25℃) along Muscle Meridian of Foot-Taiyin, as well as sub-BL39(34.38±1.04℃), and sub-BL56(33.43±1.66℃) along Muscle Meridian ofFoot-Taiyan.5.It is obvious that the affected side has a significantly higher temperature(P<0.05), along Muscle Meridian of Foot-Yangming and of Foot-Taiyin, thanunaffected side with the patients who has KOA in one leg.6.There is significant difference in knee temperature between the normal andthe patients. Within normal people, there are always high-temperature areas on the upper leg, the leg and the popliteal space, while low-temperature areaon the knee; the color turns gradually from red to blue when moving from centerto periphery, no significant different between left and right with a temperaturedifference within0.5℃. However, it appears that, within KOA patients, thetemperature surround the knees are prevalently higher, there arehigh-temperature areas in irregular shape of point, line or flake on the upperleg and leg, the temperature is0.3-1℃higher than the surroundings, and thatmost the areas are in shape of line, appearing mostly along the outside frontedge of the upper leg and leg.Conclusion：1.KOA is closely related with Yangming and Taiyin Muscle Meridian of foot.2.The infra-red imaged anormal temperature spots of KOA patients are featuredas the specificity along muscle meridians.