We have been studying the optimal condition of low-frequency electro-acupuncture. In the present paper, clinical effect of music-rhythm low-frequency electro-acupuncture on shoulder stiffness was evaluated. In this therapy, musical rhythms was directly converted to pulse waves.
Subjects were fifty patients with chronic shoulder stiffness who visited the anesthesical department of Osaka Medical College and assented to be a subject of this experiment. Each patient underwent the following three methods in random order: conventional 3Hz continuous-wave low-frequency electro-acupuncture (C method), music-rhythm low-frequency electro-acupuncture without music sound (S method), music-rhythm low-frequency electro-acupuncture with music sound (M method). The acupoints such as “Tianzhu” and “Jianjing”, which were reported by the Acupoint Committee of Japan Acupuncturists' Association as frequently used ones, were selected as basic points. Music-rhythm low-frequency electro-acupuncture was carried out using a special signal discriminating apparatus which output alternating square waves (1-100Hz) sychronizing with a music tape. Electrical stimulation was given for 15 minutes. The music was from an album of Japanese popular songs called Enka. No. 20 needles of 30mm in length were used. The effect of each method was evaluated by the patient immediately after the treatment using a numerical scale. The numerical evaluation was classed into four grades (“remarkably effective”, “effective”, “slightly effective”, “not effective”), and “Remarkably effective” and “effective” cases were counted as effective ones. Comfortableness was rated using a visual analog scale with 11 grade {-5 (discomfort): 0: +5 (comfort)}.
As to the immediate effect, “effective” was seen in 60% cases of C method (30/50), 58% of S method (29/50) and 76% of M method (38/50). M method showed 20% higher effectiveness than C and S method. This was statistically significant. Averaged comfortableness was 2.1 in C method, 1.9 in S method and 2.7 in M method.
We demonstrated the effectiveness of music-rhythm low-frequency electro-acupuncture on shoulder stiffness. To give music sound simaltaneously is necessary to get better physical and psychological results.