A Randomized Controlled Trial of Stone Needle Thermocompression and Massage for Treating Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain in the Shoulder and Back：A Secondary Analysis of Muscle Elasticity as a Mediator
10.13288/j.11-2166/r.2025.09.011
- VernacularTitle:砭石热熨推拿治疗肩背部慢性肌肉骨骼疼痛的随机对照试验——肌肉弹性中介作用的二次分析
- Author:
Jingjing QIAN
1
;
Yuanjing LI
1
;
Li LI
1
;
Yawei XI
1
;
Ying WANG
1
;
Cuihua GUO
1
;
Jiayan ZHOU
2
;
Yaxuan SUN
3
;
Shu LIU
4
;
Guangjing YANG
5
;
Na YUAN
6
;
Xiaofang YANG
1
Author Information
1. Guang'anmen Hospital，China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences，Beijing，100053
2. School of Medicine，Stanford University，U.S.A.
3. School of Public Health，Harvard University，U.S.A.
4. The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine
5. Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital
6. Wangjing Hospital，China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
chronic musculoskeletal pain;
shoulder and back pain;
stone needle thermocompression and massage;
muscle elasticity;
mediator analysis;
randomized controlled trial
- From:
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine
2025;66(9):935-940
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of stone needle thermocompression and massage compared to flurbiprofen gel patch in relieving chronic musculoskeletal pain in the shoulder and back， and to explore the potential mediating mechanism through muscle elasticity. MethodsA total of 120 patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain in the shoulder and back were randomly assigned to either stone needle group or flurbiprofen group， with 60 patients in each. The stone needle group received stone needle thermocompression and massage for 30 minutes， three times per week； the flurbiprofen group received flurbiprofen gel patch twice daily. Both groups were treated for 2 weeks. Pain improvement， as the primary outcome， was assessed using the Global Pain Scale （GPS） at baseline， after 2 weeks of treatment， and again 2 weeks post-treatment. To explore potential mechanisms， a mediator analysis was conducted by measuring changes in superficial and deep muscle elasticity using musculoskeletal ultrasound at baseline and after the 2-week treatment period. ResultsThe stone needle group showed significantly greater pain relief than the flurbiprofen group 2 weeks post-treatment. After adjusting for confounders related to pain duration， the between-group mean difference was -8.8 ［95% CI （-18.2， -0.7）， P＜0.05］. Part of the therapeutic effect was mediated by changes in deep muscle elasticity， with a mediation effect size of -1.5 ［95% CI （-2.0， -0.9）， P = 0.024］， accounting for 17.9% of the total effect. ConclusionStone needle thermocompression and massage can effectively relieve chronic musculoskeletal pain in the shoulder and back， partly through a mediating effect of improved deep muscle elasticity.
