Relationship between katakori (shoulder stiffness) and shoulder hardness
10.3777/jjsam.59.30
- VernacularTitle:肩こりと肩上部の硬さとの関係
- Author:
Hiroshi OKUNO
;
Taro TAKEDA
;
Tomoko SASAOKA
;
Fumihiko FUKUDA
;
Naoto ISHIZAKI
;
Hiroshi KITAKOJI
;
Tadashi YANO
;
Yoshiharu YAMAMURA
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
katakori (shoulder stiffness);
acupuncture;
hardness;
symptomatic part of katakori;
palpation
- From:Journal of the Japan Society of Acupuncture and Moxibustion
2009;59(1):30-38
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
-
Abstract:
[Objective]The present study investigated the relationship between subjective symptoms of katakori (shoulder stiffness) and shoulder hardness which was examined both with clinical palpation and a mechanical device, as well as the correlation between these two measurements.
[Methods]Subjects were enrolled to the study if they had a stiff shoulder on the day of the visit (katakori group, n = 60) or if they had no experience of katakori in their lifetime (non-katakori group, n = 10). The intensity of the katakori was evaluated with a visual analogue scale (VAS). Shoulder hardness was evaluated at acupoint Jianjing (GB21) and at the point where the subject felt the most intensive symptom by both palpation of experienced acupuncturists who were unaware of the allocation and a hardness meter. The method of acupuncture treatment was decided by acupuncturists who were not an evaluator of the hardness.
[Results and Discussion]There was no significant relationship in the hardness measured with the device and palpation between the katakori group and non-katakori group. Also, the intensity of katakori (VAS) and the changes after treatment showed no significant correlation with the hardness and its changes. These results support the validity of our clinical experience that patients who complain of severe shoulder stiffness do not always have a hard shoulder.
