Acupuncture Differentially Affects the High-Frequency Spectral Energy in Radial Pulse Positions Depending on Type of Lower Back Pain

Abstract

Acupuncture is a core discipline in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and has been practised in China for centuries. In traditional acupuncture, pulse palpation is an important clinical diagnostic technique that guides practitioners in their treatment strategies as they evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment. This paper provides the findings of our investigation of acupuncture's effect on specific radial pulse spectral energies in 41 individuals with lower back pain (LBP), in response to a single acupuncture treatment delivered bilaterally at acupoints BL23, BL25, and BL40. Baseline assessments (vital signs and radial pulse diagnoses), primary outcome measures (radial pulse diagnoses), and secondary outcome measures (the Faces Pain Scale-Revised (FPS-R) and fingertip-to-floor (FTF) tests) were performed at specified intervals before and after the intervention. Our study provides novel information about the effects of acupuncture on the radial pulse spectral energy in individuals with different types of LBP. Our findings suggest that the right Chi pulse is an effective indicator to assess the effects of acupuncture in individuals with fixed, distended, or sharp pain, whereas the left Guan pulse is a potentially useful diagnostic technique to determine acupuncture's effects in individuals with dull, aching pain. The acupoints BL23, BL25, and BL40 provide effective treatment for LBP. Study participants with dull, aching pain had a significant improvement in their lumbar ranges of motion, and their pain rating scores were markedly decreased after acupuncture treatment.

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“…Cun , guan , and chi pulse positions on each wrist were located and marked to ensure that same positions were subsequently repeatedly assessed at postintervention. The guan pulse was first identified at the prominence distal to the radial styloid process [ 7 ]. Then, the cun and chi pulses were located at the distal and proximal aspects, respectively.…”

“…Figure 6 illustrates the vertical movement of the pulse detection sensor pen at each individual pulse. The design and mechanism of PPAS-96 were described in previous studies [ 7 , 8 ].…”

“…Radial pulse diagnosis plays an important role in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in distinguishing the disease position, disease pathogenesis, and the disease prognosis. Also, it guides TCM physicians in clinical decision of treatment strategy and evaluation of the treatment efficacy [ 7 ]. Traditionally, TCM physicians palpate radial pulses on both wrists of the patient using the index, middle, and ring fingers concurrently or individually [ 8 ].…”

“…Traditionally, TCM physicians palpate radial pulses on both wrists of the patient using the index, middle, and ring fingers concurrently or individually [ 8 ]. Three regions corresponding to these fingers are named cun , guan , and chi (Chun, Guan, and Chy pulses were used in some studies), respectively [ 7 ]. Figure 1 shows the respective visceral organs corresponding to these pulses.…”

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“…The strategy of acupuncture is determined to restore the imbalance of Qi and blood, confirmed by fine changes in the radial pulse. This method has been illustrated that acupuncture could affect the radial pulse patterns [ 5 ].…”