OBJECTIVETo evaluate clinical significance of waist soft tissue tension detection in treating chronic nonspecific low back pain.

METHODSFrom August 2011 to March 2012,60 patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain were divided into two groups (sliver needle group and TCM fumigation group) according to propotion of 1:1. In sliver needle group, there were 17 males and 13 females aged from 28 to 55 years old with an average age of (45.70 +/- 4.15), treated with sliver needle; In TCM fumigation group,there were 19 males and 11 females aged from 27 to 55 years old with an average age of (43.03 +/- 5.86), treated with TCM fumigation. Changes of force-displacement distance (FDD), specific absorption rate (S) of two groups were observed before treatment, 1 week and 3 months after treatment respectively, VAS scoring and Roland-Morris disability questionnaire (RMDQ) were used to access clinical effects.

RESULTS(1) VAS score of silver needle group was 4.77 +/- 0.78, 1.99 +/- 1.08 and 2.55 +/- 0.94, respectively before treatment, at 1 week and 3 months after treatment,while VAS score in TCM fumigation group were 4.43 +/- 0.61, 2.48 +/- 0.71 and 3.05 +/- 0.86, respectively. VAS score of two groups after treatment were sigificant decrease than that of before treatment (P < 0.05). There was no sigificant differences between two groups before treatment, but sliver needle group performed well in analgesia than TCM fumigation group, and had obvious differences (P < 0.05). RMDQ score of silver needle group was 13.63 +/- 1.96, 5.87 +/- 2.33 and 6.53 +/- 2.89, respectively before treatment, at 1 week and 3 months after treatment, while RMDQ score in TCM fumigation group were 13.40 +/- 2.01, 6.90 +/- 2.31, 9.23 +/- 2.87, respectively. There was no significant differences between two groups before treatment and 1 week after treatment (P > 0.05), and had obvious differences between two groups at 3 months after treatment (P < 0.01). Both groups could obvious improve dysfunction caused by chronic low back pain, and curative effect of sliver needle groups was more endurable. (2) Following-up at 3 months after treatment, FDD of multifidus, erector spinae of effected side and multifidus of healthy in sliver needle group were obvious increased (P < 0.05); In TCM fumigation group, FDD of multifidus and erector spinae on both side were increased at 1 week after treatment (P < 0.05), but had no significant meaning at 3 months after treatment on health side (P>0.05). There was no significant meaning before treatment (P > 0.05), FDD of multifidus, erector spinae of effected side in sliver needle group were obvious increased at 1 week after treatment (P < 0.05); but no obvious meaning on health side. FDD of both side in sliver needle group were obvious increased at 3 months after treatment. (3) There was correlation among differences of FDD in multifidus and erector spinae, VAS score and differences of RMDQ, and Spearman correlation coefficient R was 0.517, 0.811, 0.746 and 0.625; There was correlation between items of soft tissue tension and sympotoms, function and life quality. Conclusion:Soft tissue tension detection can effectively manifest degree of pain and dysfunction of low back, and improve objectivity of therapeutic evaluation for chronic low back pain.