Clinical observation of Tuina plus Chinese medication hot compress for lumbar muscle strain

To discuss the clinical efficacy of treating lumbar muscle strain (LMS) with Tuina (Chinese therapeutic massage) plus Chinese medication hot compress.

A total of 147 LMS patients were randomized into a Tuina group, a Chinese medication hot compress group, and a combined group, each consisting of 49 cases. The Tuina group received Tuina treatment; the Chinese medication hot compress group received Chinese medication hot compress treatment; and the combined group received the forementioned two therapies alternately. The three groups of patients were assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) before treatment and after 2 weeks of treatment. A 2-month follow-up was also conducted to observe the relapse rate.

The VAS and ODI scores dropped significantly after treatment in all three groups compared with their baseline (P<0.05), and the combined group surpassed the other two groups in comparing the ODI score (P<0.05). The 2-month follow-up showed that the combined group had the lowest relapse rate among the three groups (P<0.05).

Compared to each therapy used alone, Tuina plus Chinese medication hot compress can relieve pain, improve daily living function, and reduce the short-term relapse rate better in treating LMS patients.