[Comparison of paravertebral soft tissue tension changes in patients with chronic lower back pain treated by sliver needle and traditional Chinese medicine fumigation].

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

Methods: From 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.