The Effect of Electric Acupuncture Therapy on Myofascial Pain Syndrome

근근막 동통증후군과 전침(Electric Acupuncture)치료의 유효성에 관한 연구

Many out patients of the rehabilitation center complaint a pain caused by suffering of MPS, and it brings many different kind of social and ecinomical problems such as medical expenses and the reduction in work efficiency. Therefore, we conducted a research to present a fast and effective treatment to the MPS patients. this research was conducted from November, 1996 to January 1998 with eighteen outpatients who agreed to be the subjects to our reserach. We applied the electric acupuncture on 28 different trigger point on the patients with mostly muscular-skeletal pain and some tender and radiating pain. After the treatment, VRS, VAS, PRI were used to measure the degree of the pain on the patients third and seventh visits, and following results were found. 1. To apply EAP treatment, we acupunctured 6em-Iong needles on Tps region, then the electrodes of pulse generater pg-306 E.S.T were connected on the top of the needles. the electric acupuncture therapy was conducted for 20 minutes with the intensity of 4hz - 60hz(auto wave). The treated electric intensity was the level at which the patients did not feel discomfort. 2. Thirteen out of the 18 participated patients were in their 30s and 40s(72.2%), showing highest frequency. There were more female than male with the ratio of 1 to 1:2. 3. six out of the participated patients (33.3%) had the pain for less then a week, and the average duration of the pain of the participated patients wear 0.8 years. 4. The pain occured mostly in the upper trapezius by 6 part (21.4%), then in the gluteus medius region by 4 part (14.3%). Many of the patients with the pain in the upper back area accompanied varios kind of the referred pains such as radiculopathy, HIVD and Frozen shoulder. 5. MPS occured more frequently on the right side than left side then left side and it seemed to be due to the frequent use of the right hand. 6. There was almost no difference in the measurement of the intensity of the pain right before and after the EAP treatment. Howerver, there was significant decrease in the numerical values of the VAS, and a little bit of decrease in the numerical values of the PRI after the EAP treatment. 7. Based on the results of this present research, it can be concluded that EAP can be used for the treating the myofascial pain syndrome with promptness and safety in most cases.