Effect of tuina at different muscle positions on surface electromyography in chronic nonspecific neck pain: A randomized clinical study.

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to examine the effects of muscle-start-stop tuina and muscle belly tuina on the surface electromyography(sEMG) of chronic nonspecific neck pain. The research sought to provide empirical evidence for the efficacy of muscle start-stop tuina in treating chronic nonspecific neck pain.

METHODS

A total of 60 patients diagnosed with chronic nonspecific neck pain were randomly allocated into 2 equal groups: an experimental group (n = 30) and a control group (n = 30). The experimental group received tuina treatment focused on the origin and insertion points of the trapezius muscle, while the control group received tuina treatment on the trapezius muscle belly. Both groups underwent 10 treatment sessions over a two-week period. To assess the efficacy of the interventions, patients' symptoms were evaluated using the Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire. Additionally, muscle tone and endurance were quantified using sEMG to measure the root mean square and median frequency value decline rates.

RESULTS

The experimental and control groups exhibited statistically significant changes in Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire scores, sEMG root mean square values, and median frequency decline rates posttreatment compared to pretreatment measurements. Furthermore, statistically significant differences were observed in these parameters between the experimental group, which received tuina at the muscle origin and insertion, and the control group, which received tuina at the muscle belly.

CONCLUSIONS

Both the muscle-start-end tuina and muscle belly tuina techniques demonstrate efficacy in treating chronic nonspecific neck pain. However, the muscle-start-end tuina method exhibits superior outcomes in symptom alleviation, muscle tension reduction, and enhancement of muscle endurance compared to muscle belly tuina.