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. 2012:2012:353916.
doi: 10.1155/2012/353916. Epub 2012 Dec 25.

Remote subcutaneous needling to suppress the irritability of myofascial trigger spots: an experimental study in rabbits

Zhonghua Fu  1 , Yueh-Ling Hsieh, Chang-Zern Hong, Mu-Jung Kao, Jaung-Geng Lin, Li-Wei Chou
Affiliations

Remote subcutaneous needling to suppress the irritability of myofascial trigger spots: an experimental study in rabbits

Zhonghua Fu et al. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012.

Abstract

Objective. To obtain electrophysiological effects of Fu's subcutaneous needling (FSN) on needling distance by assessment of endplate noise (EPN) recorded from the myofascial trigger spots (MTrSs) in rabbit skeletal muscle. Method. Eighteen New Zealand rabbits weighing 2.5-3.0 kg were randomly divided into two groups as follows: proximal needling (PN) group and distal needling (DN) group. The needling procedure followed the instructions described by the inventor of FSN, including needling insertion and swaying movement. The amplitudes of EPN on the MTrS region of BF muscle were recorded as an index of MTrS irritability. Random sampling of EPN tracings were taken for further analyses before, during, and after FSN treatment. Results. In PN and DN groups, the trends of EPN amplitude alterations were similar at conditions before, during, and after FSN treatment. The degree of reduction in the EPN amplitude in PN group was significantly higher than that in DN group. There were no significant changes in EPN amplitudes in the MTrS of contralateral BF without FSN intervention either in DN or PN group. Conclusion. The irritability of proximal MTrSs could be modulated after ipsilateral FSNs. The placement of FSN may affect the effectiveness of suppression of irritability of MTrSs.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Three parts of Fu's subcutaneous needling.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) The Fu's subcutaneous needling (FSN) is placed to the subcutaneous tissue, and (b) swayed during treatment.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Flow chart for the animal study. (BF = bicep femoris; Contra = EPN recording side contralaterally to FSN side; DN = distal needling; EPN = endplate noise; FSN = Fu's subcutaneous needling; G = gastrocnemius; Ipsi = EPN recording side ipsilaterally to FSN side; PN = proximal needling).
Figure 4
Figure 4
The sites and sides of endplate noise (EPN) recordings, and that for Fu's subcutaneous needling (FSN) for animals in proximal needling (PN) and distal needling (DN) groups.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Sequences of Fu's subcutaneous needling (FSN) and endplate noise (EPN) assessment in the whole course of the experiment.
Figure 6
Figure 6
The serial changes of the mean amplitudes of endplate noise (EPN) in groups with proximal (PN group) and distal (DN group) Fu's subcutaneous needling (FSN). ipsi and contra indicate the EPN recording ipsilaterally and contralaterally to FSN. *Indicates P < 0.05 tested by ANOVA.
Figure 7
Figure 7
The percentages of EPN amplitude alteration in bilateral biceps femoris (BF) muscle in each condition when compared with the data before proximal and distal manipulation of Fu's subcutaneous needling (PN and DN group). Abbreviations: BF = biceps femoris; DN = distal needling; EPN = endplate noise; PN = proximal needling.
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References

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