This paper aims to investigate the intervention effect of Qufeng Gutong Cataplasm(QFGT) on myofascial pain syndrome(MPS) in rats and to preliminarily explain its mechanism from the perspective of improving muscle inflammation and pain. Male SD rats were divided into 6 groups, namely normal group, model group, positive control drug(Huoxue Zhitong Ointment, HXZT) group, and low, medium, and high-dose QFGT groups(75, 150, and 300 mg·d~(-1)). The rat model of MPS was established by striking combined with centrifugation for 8 weeks, during which QFGT and HXZT were used for corresponding intervention. Standard VonFrey fiber was used to evaluate the mechanical pain threshold, and acetone was used to detect the cold pain threshold. The electrophysiological activity of muscle at trigger point was detected, and the electromuscular analysis of trigger point was performed. CatWalk gait analyzer was used to detect pain-induced gait adaptation changes. The hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to observe the pathological changes in muscle and skin tissues at the trigger point of rats. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of capsaicin receptor transient receptor potential vanilloid 1(TRPV1) in muscle tissues and interleukin(IL)-33 in skin tissues at the trigger point. The protein expression levels of TRPV1, protein kinase B(Akt), phosphorylated protein kinase B(p-Akt), IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in muscle tissues at the trigger point were detected by Western blot. The results showed that as compared with the model group, the mechanical pain threshold and cold pain threshold of rats in other groups were increased after treatment with QFGT. The spontaneous electromyography(EMG) activity was observed in the model group, but QFGT alleviated the EMG activity in a dose-dependent manner. Gait analysis showed that standing duration, average intensity, swing speed, maximum contact point, maximum contact area, paw print length, paw print width, and paw print area were significantly improved in all QFGT groups. Pathological results showed that the disorder of muscle arrangement at the trigger point was decreased, muscle fiber adhesion and atrophy were reduced, and inflammatory cell infiltration was alleviated after treatment with QFGT. In addition, QFGT and HXZT both inhibited the protein expression of TRPV1, PI3K, Akt, p-Akt, IL-1β, and TNF-α in the muscle tissues of rats with MPS. However, there was no significant difference in the pathological structure and expression of IL-33 in the treated skin as compared with the normal group. The related results have proved that QFGT can inhibit the release of inflammatory factors by inhibiting the TRPV1/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in the muscle trigger point of rats with MPS and finally attenuate the atrophy and adhesion of local muscles and inflammatory infiltration, thereby relieving the muscle pain of rats with MPS, and local administration has no skin irritation.
Rats ; Male ; Animals ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Myofascial Pain Syndromes/drug therapy* ; Pain

Bibliometric and scientific knowledge graph methods were used to analyze the research status and hot spots of acupuncture-moxibustion in treatment of myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) and explore its development trend. The articles of both Chinese and English versions relevant to MPS treated by acupuncture-moxibustion were searched in CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, SinoMed and WOS from the database inception to March 20, 2023. Using Excel2016, CiteSpace6.2.R2 and VOSviewer1.6.18, the visual analysis was conducted by means of the cooperative network, keyword co-occurrence, keyword timeline, keyword emergence, etc. From Chinese databases and WOS database, 910 Chinese articles and 300 English articles were included, respectively. The annual publication volume showed an overall rising trend. Literature output of English articles was concentrated in Spain, China, and the United States, of which, there was less cross-regional cooperation. In the keyword analysis, regarding acupuncture-moxibustion therapy, Chinese articles focused on "acupuncture", "electroacupuncture" and "acupotomy"; while, "dry needling" and "injection" were dominated for English one. Clinical study was the current hot spot in Chinese databases, in comparison, the randomized controlled double-blind clinical trial was predominant in WOS. Both Chinese and English articles were limited in the report of mechanism research. The cooperation among research teams should be strengthened to conduct comparative research, dose-effect research and effect mechanism research with different methods of acupuncture-moxibustion involved so that the evidences can be provided for deeper exploration.
Humans ; Moxibustion ; Pattern Recognition, Automated ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Myofascial Pain Syndromes/therapy* ; Electroacupuncture

This study systematically reviewed the clinical efficacy of acupuncture for lumbar myofascial pain syndrome. The randomized controlled trials (RCTs) regarding acupuncture for lumbar myofascial pain syndrome were searched in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, EMbase, Scopus, China national knowledge infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang database, VIP database, and China biomedical literature service system (SinoMed) from database inception until August 1st, 2022. The Cochrane's risk of bias assessment tool was used to assess the risk of bias in all included studies, and Review Manager 5.3 software was used for statistical analysis of the extracted data. As a result, 12 RCTs, involving 1 087 patients with lumbar myofascial pain syndrome, were ultimately included. The Meta-analysis results showed that the visual analog scale (VAS) score of pain in the observation group was lower than those in the oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication control [SMD=-1.67, 95%CI (-2.44, -0.90), Z=4.26, P<0.000 1] and other treatment control [low-frequency electrical stimulation, tuina, electromagnetic wave irradiation combined with piroxicam gel, SMD=-1.98, 95%CI (-2.48, -1.48), Z=7.74, P<0.000 01]. The pain rating index (PRI) score in the observation group was lower than those in the lidocaine injection control [MD=-2.17, 95%CI (-3.41, -0.93), Z=3.44, P=0.000 6] and other treatment control [low-frequency electrical stimulation, tuina, MD=-5.75, 95%CI (-9.97, -1.53), Z=2.67, P=0.008]. The present pain intensity (PPI) score in the observation group was lower than that in other treatment control [low-frequency electrical stimulation, tuina, MD=-1.04, 95%CI (-1.55, -0.53), Z=4.01, P<0.000 1]. In conclusion, compared with oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication, low-frequency electrical stimulation, tuina, and electromagnetic wave irradiation combined with piroxicam gel, acupuncture is more effective in reducing pain in patients with lumbar myofascial pain syndrome; acupuncture also exhibites advantage over lidocaine injection in improving PRI score and showed better outcomes over tuina and low-frequency electrical stimulation in improving PRI and PPI scores.
Humans ; Piroxicam ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Pain ; Myofascial Pain Syndromes/therapy* ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/therapeutic use* ; Lidocaine

Objective: To screen the physical, psychological and behavioral factors related to patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) by using Axis Ⅱ assessment instruments of diagnostic criteria for TMD(DC/TMD). And to provide a reference to establish personalized diagnosis and treatment plans for TMD patients so as to prevent TMD and reduce predisposing factors. Methods: A total of 141 TMD patients, who were admitted in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University from October 2018 to February 2021 were selected. There were 121 females and 20 males, with an average age of 30 years. A total of 90 healthy people were included as controls. A full-time psychologist conducted relevant questionnaire surveys. The questionnaires include general clinical survey forms and TMD symptom questionnaire. In addition, Axis Ⅱ assessment instruments include graded chronic pain scale, jaw functional limitation scale, oral behaviors checklist, patient health questionnaire-9 (depression), generalized anxiety disorder scale, patient health questionnaire-15 (physical symptoms), etc. The main observational indicators include: pain level, pain impact rates, overall classification of chronic pain, limited chewing function score, limited motor function score, limited communication function score, total jaw function restricted score, depression score, anxiety score, somatic symptom score and oral behavior score.The survey data were imported into SPSS 22.0 software for statistical analysis. Results: In the TMD group 60.3% (85/141) patients had various degrees of pain, 24.1% (34/141) of those with pain effect grades from 1 to 3 and 61.0% (86/141) showed chronic pain overall grades from Ⅰ to Ⅳ. The chewing function restricted score was 2.67(1.17, 4.25), motor function restricted score was 4.25(1.75, 6.12), communication function restricted score was 1.13(1.00, 2.25) and total jaw function restricted score was 2.56(1.47, 4.15) respectively. Patients with mild depression or above accounted for 59.6%(84/141), patients with mild anxiety or above accounted for 56.7%(80/141), 46.1%(65/141) patients had somatization symptoms. Statistical differences (P<0.05) were determined between TMD group and control group in various scores of jaw function, oral behavior grading, depression, anxiety, and physical symptoms. Physical symptoms had significantly statistical difference between different diagnostic classification(P<0.05). Meanwhile, among the different chronic pain levels in the TMD group, there were statistical differences in the various scales of mandibular dysfunction, depression, anxiety, and somatization. In the TMD group, other significant differences were noticed between males and females in terms of the average score of mouth opening, verbal and facial communication, the total score of mandibular dysfunction as well as physical symptoms (P<0.05). Conclusions: Compared with the healthy people, patients with TMD had more abnormal oral behaviors, different restriction of the mandibular functional activities. At the same time, depression, anxiety, and somatization were more serious. Patients with osteoarthritis and subluxation of temporomandibular joint were more likely to suffer physical symptoms. TMD patients suffering from pain had more severe mandibular dysfunction and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and somatization.
Adult ; Depression/diagnosis* ; Facial Pain ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mandible ; Somatoform Disorders ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders/diagnosis* ; Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome

Objective: To observe the different imaging manifestations of condylar sclerosis in temporomandibular joint osteoarthrosis and explore the imaging significance of condylar sclerosis. Methods: From January 2018 to December 2020, 50 patients with temporomandibular joint condylar sclerosis were examined by cone-beam CT (CBCT) and underwent spiral CT, MRI and radionuclide bone imaging at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in General Hospital of Chinese PLA. There were 15 males and 35 females aged from 16 to 65 years with age of (42.7±14.5) years. The imaging manifestations of CBCT, spiral CT, MRI and radionuclide bone imaging, joint disc displacement and abnormal bone metabolism of condylar sclerosis were analyzed. And the area of condylar sclerosis was graded according to the image of CBCT. Results: A total of 50 patients were included, including 38 unilateral condylar sclerosis, 12 patients with bilateral condylar sclerosis, the total condylar sclerosis were 66. There was no significant difference between the detection rate of further spiral CT (95.5%, 63/66) and CBCT (100.0%, 66/66) (corrected χ²=1.36,P=0.244). The area of condylar sclerosis was (35.5±4.5) mm², ranged from 1 to 100 mm². In addition, spiral CT showed more clearly condylar sclerosis than CBCT. Sclerosis can occur in all parts of condyle, mainly in the upper middle region (68.2%,45/66) in coronal position and in the upper front region (71.2%,47/66) in sagittal position. Fifty-seven condylar sclerosis were detected by MRI, including 4(4/19) condylar sclerosis less than 4 mm². There was significant difference in the displacement of temporomandibular joint disc between the sclerotic side and the non sclerotic side (χ²=10.09, P=0.006). MRI display the condylar sclerosis showed low signal (56/62), followed by high signal (5/62) and medium signal (1/62). Radionuclide bone imaging showed that 4 of the 38 patients with unilateral condyle sclerosis had symmetrical bone metabolism, 34 had abnormal bone metabolism, and 21 patients had concentrated on the non-sclerotic side. Radionuclide bone imaging showed that 4 of the 38 patients with unilateral condyle sclerosis had symmetrical bone metabolism and 34 had abnormal bone metabolism. Conclusions: Spiral CT is more accurate than CBCT in terms of condyle sclerosis through different imaging analysis, and the detection rate of both is higher than MRI. Most of condylar sclerosis showed different degrees of low signal on MRI. The condylar sclerosis side is usually manifested by abnormal bone metabolism.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Mandibular Condyle/diagnostic imaging* ; Sclerosis/diagnostic imaging* ; Temporomandibular Joint/diagnostic imaging* ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders/etiology* ; Temporomandibular Joint Disc/diagnostic imaging* ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome ; Osteoarthritis/etiology* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that in 62.5% of cases of incurable cancer pain, the complaint is due to myofascial pain syndrome. Trigger point injections using dibucaine hydrochloride help patients with such cancer pain. This study evaluated the efficacy of trigger point injections for alleviating pain in patients with advanced cancer. METHODS: Twenty patients with advanced cancer who had a life expectancy of 6 months or less and had been diagnosed with myofascial pain syndrome were treated with trigger point injections. Prior to treatment, a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to measure the resting pain level and discomfort upon application of pressure on the site of pain. These values were compared with last treatment measurements. RESULTS: The mean pre-treatment VAS scores for pain at rest and upon application of pressure on the pain site were 7.3 and 9.0, respectively. These scores decreased significantly to 1.95 and 3.2, respectively, after the treatment (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Trigger point injection is an alternative and effective pain control modality for advanced cancer patients with myofascial pain syndrome.
Dibucaine ; Humans ; Life Expectancy ; Myofascial Pain Syndromes ; Trigger Points ; Visual Analog Scale

OBJECTIVE: To detect the core muscle group in the patients with myofascial pain syndromes(MPS) by using the surface electromyography; to detect the distribution of muscle fiber type by the analysis of the median frequency and the slope of the median frequency. METHODS: From October 2017 to March 2018, there were 100 patients with the MPS, including 45 males and 55 females; the average age was 48.5 years old, ranging from 29 to 76 years old. There were 40 cases of left back pain and 60 cases of right back pain. The course of illness was more than 6 months. Another 40 healthy patients without pain in the waist were included in the control group, 20 males and 20 females; the average age was 47.3 years old, ranging from 29 to 76 years old. All the patients had different degrees of back pain and muscle stiffness, which were diagnosed as lumbar fasciitis by clinical and imaging examination. Surface electromyography was used to measure the characteristics of the lumbar core muscles (multifissions, iliocostal muscles, and longest muscle) of the three groups in the Biering-Sorensen testing, such as median frequency(MF) and absolute slope of median frequency (MFs). RESULTS: The MF values of the multifidus muscle in the three groups were as follows:the left side of the non-pain group was 133.88±26.61, and the right side was 131.39±29.81; left side of lift side pain group 117.29±10.93, right side 133.70±17.81; in the right pain group, the left side was 131.36±17.37, and the right side was 118.28±13.57. The MF values of the iliocostal muscle in the three groups were:106.94±28.01 on the left side of the non-pain group, 114.68±18.96 on the right side; left side of lift side pain group 93.95±11.17, right side 107.60±27.86; in the right pain group, the left side was 105.93±15.52, and the right side was 97.27±19.27. The MF values of the longest muscle in the three groups were:109.24±26.20 on the left side of the non-pain group, 112.58±17.70 on the right side. Left side of left side pain group 95.58±10.83, right side 108.79±26.39; in the right pain group, the left side was 106.50±17.98, and the right side was 98.20±11.16. The MFs values of the multifidus muscle in the three groups were:0.221±0.109 on the left side of the non-pain group, and 0.259±0.169 on the right side; left side of left side pain group 0.318±0.184, right side 0.210±0.159; in the right pain group, the left side was 0.258±0.169, and the right side was 0.386±0.166. The MFs values of the iliocostal muscles in the three groups were:0.241±0.158 for the left side of the non-pain group, and 0.238±0.128 for the right side. Left side of left side pain group 0.330±0.208, right side 0.252±0.171; in the right side pain group, left side 0.249±0.150, right side 0.343± 0.144. The MFs values of the longest muscle of the three groups were:0.244±0.252 on the left side of the non-pain group, and 0.210±0.128 on the right side; left side of left side pain group 0.348±0.255, right side 0.241±0.224; in the right pain group, the left side was 0.239±0.155, and the right side was 0.334±0.233. There were no statistically significant differences in MF and MFs values of the left and right lumbar multifidus muscle, iliocostal muscle and longest muscle in the non-pain group(>0.05). MF values of the pain side multifidus muscle, iliocostal muscle and longest muscle in the lumbago group were lower than those in the non-pain group(<0.05). MFs values of the painful side multifidus muscle, iliocostal muscle and longest muscle in the low back pain group were higher than those in the non-pain group(<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The muscle fatigue degree of the back muscle in the pain side of patients with MPs is decreased, and the muscle fiber type is dominated by II muscle fiber.
Adult ; Aged ; Electromyography ; Female ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscle Fatigue ; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Myofascial Pain Syndromes

OBJECTIVE: Based on the establishment of a rat model of trigger point, this study was to intervene with warm acupuncture, and to evaluate the effect on pathological morphology and pain-induced inflammation of the rat model by microscopic pathology and microdialysis. METHODS: Sixty-four SD rats were randomly divided into group A (blank control), group B (model control) and group C (model and intervention control). Groups A and B were divided into 3 groups (A0, A1, A2 and B0, B1, B2), the group C was divided into 2 groups (C1 and C2). The MTrPs model was established in both groups B and C, warm acupuncture intervention were given to the C1 group for 7 days and the C2 group for 15 days. Rats were sacrificed in batches. MTrPs were locally sampled and stained with hematoxylin-eosin after the preparation. The pathological changes were observed under light microscopy. The iocal interleukin-1β and prostaglandin E2 were detected by microdialysis technique. RESULTS: Microscopically, the muscle fibers of the model were arranged disorderly, broken, twisted, local fibrosis, contracture thickening and so on; macrophage and other inflammatory cell invasion in local area and a large area of adhesion occurred on the contracture nodule, the pathological state of local muscle fibers was significantly improved after warm needle intervention, local microvascular formation and maturation, local muscle fiber repair. After successful modeling, the amount of interleukin-1β and prostaglandin E2 in group B0 was significantly higher than that in group A0 before warm needle intervention (<0.01). After warming intervention for 7 days, there was no significant difference in the amount of interleukin-1β and prostaglandin E2 between group C1 and group B1 (>0.05). Group C1 and B1 were significantly higher than group A1 (<0.01); warm needle intervention for 15 days, the amount of interleukin-1β and prostaglandin E2 in group C2 were lower than those in group B2 (<0.05), but those in group C2 and B2 were significantly higher than group A2 (<0.01), and the amount of interleukin-1β and prostaglandin E2 in group C2 was lower than group C1 (<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The modeling method of exercise combined hitting used in this study was proved to be effective by histopathology; warm acupuncture can improve the pathological and inflammatory state of local muscle fiber in myofascial pain trigger of rat, promote local microvascular formation and maturation, and help the trigger point local muscle fiber repair.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Inflammation Mediators ; Myofascial Pain Syndromes ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Trigger Points

The sources of shockwave generation include electrohydraulic, electromagnetic and piezoelectric principles, and extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) appears to have mechanical and biological effects on tissue healing. The application of ESWT to musculoskeletal disorders has been around for more than a decade and is used primarily in the treatment of calcific or non-calcific tendinitis of the shoulder, lateral and medial epicondylitis of the elbow, patellar tendinopathy, Achilles tendinitis or proximal plantar fasciitis of the heel, myofascial pain syndrome, etc. ESWT is also used in the treatment of delayed union or non-union of long bone fractures, avascular necrosis of the femoral head, and chronic diabetic ulcers. The vast majority of papers have reported positive and beneficial effects with few complications. The clinical application of ESWT has increased steadily. This article reviews the current status of ESWT in musculoskeletal disorders.
Elbow ; Fasciitis, Plantar ; Fractures, Bone ; Head ; Heel ; Magnets ; Musculoskeletal Diseases ; Myofascial Pain Syndromes ; Necrosis ; Shock* ; Shoulder ; Tendinopathy ; Ulcer

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) and trigger point injection (TPI) for the treatment of myofascial pain syndrome in the quadratus lumborum. METHODS: In a retrospective study at our institute, 30 patients with myofascial pain syndrome in the quadratus lumborum were assigned to ESWT or TPI groups. We assessed ESWT and TPI treatment according to their affects on pain relief and disability improvement. The outcome measures for the pain assessment were a visual analogue scale score and pain pressure threshold. The outcome measures for the disability assessment were Oswestry Disability Index, Roles and Maudsley, and Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale scores. RESULTS: Both groups demonstrated statistically significant improvements in pain and disability measures after treatment. However, in comparing the treatments, we found ESWT to be more effective than TPI for pain relief. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups with respect to disability. CONCLUSION: Compared to TPI, ESWT showed superior results for pain relief. Thus, we consider ESWT as an effective treatment for myofascial pain syndrome in the quadratus lumborum.
Back Pain ; Humans ; Myofascial Pain Syndromes* ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Pain Measurement ; Quebec ; Retrospective Studies ; Shock* ; Trigger Points*