An Study To Asses The Role Of Acupuncture Points In Patients With Non-Specific Upper Limb Pain: A Randomized Control Trial

Authors

  • Neeti Mahalwal
  • Jafar Khan
  • Renuka Pal
  • Vardhman Jain
  • K.M. Annamalai
  • Farukh Mohammad Pinjara
  • Abid R Qureshi
  • Neha Khera
  • Dinesh Menaria
  • Jayesh Joshi

Keywords:

Upper limb pain, acupressure, physiotherapy, meridian points, Quick DASH, VAS, integrative therapy, musculoskeletal rehabilitation

Abstract

Background: Upper limb pain is a multifactorial condition often arising from musculoskeletal, neurological, or postural origins. Traditional physiotherapy remains a mainstay of treatment, yet integrating alternative approaches like acupressure, rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), may enhance therapeutic outcomes. The myofascial meridian concept parallels acupuncture meridians and offers a scientific rationale for acupressure in clinical settings.

Objective: To evaluate and compare the effectiveness of acupressure-based kneading of meridian points integrated with physiotherapy versus traditional physiotherapy alone in reducing upper limb pain and improving functional capacity.

Methods: A randomized experimental study was conducted with 60 participants divided into two groups (n=30 each). Group I received a standard physiotherapy regimen, while Group II underwent meridian-based kneading of acupoints combined with exercise. Outcomes were assessed pre- and post-intervention using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain and the Quick DASH questionnaire for upper limb disability. Demographic data, occupational background, and side of involvement were also analyzed.

Results: Both groups demonstrated statistically significant improvements in pain and functional outcomes (p < 0.001). However, Group II showed superior results, with VAS scores decreasing from 5.79 ± 2.13 to 0.79 ± 0.77 and Quick DASH scores dropping from 45.31 ± 15.71 to 3.81 ± 4.55. In contrast, Group I's VAS decreased from 6.48 ± 1.51 to 4.75 ± 2.03, and Quick DASH from 59.31 ± 14.39 to 43.05 ± 13.90. No significant differences were observed between genders or age groups in outcome, although females in Group II showed slightly better functional recovery.

Conclusion: Integrating acupressure-based kneading of meridian points with physiotherapy significantly enhances pain relief and functional recovery in individuals with upper limb pain compared to physiotherapy alone. These findings support a multimodal, holistic treatment approach and encourage further exploration into acupressure-physiotherapy integration for other musculoskeletal conditions. Acupressure point kneading with traditional physiotherapy is more effective in upper limb pain management than only traditional physiotherapy or acupressure point kneading

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References

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Published

2025-07-25

How to Cite

1.
Mahalwal N, Khan J, Pal R, Jain V, Annamalai K, Pinjara FM, Qureshi AR, Khera N, Menaria D, Joshi J. An Study To Asses The Role Of Acupuncture Points In Patients With Non-Specific Upper Limb Pain: A Randomized Control Trial. J Neonatal Surg [Internet]. 2025Jul.25 [cited 2025Oct.12];14(17S):1095-107. Available from: https://mail.jneonatalsurg.com/index.php/jns/article/view/8515

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