Research Article

Remote Effect of Lower Limb Acupuncture on Latent Myofascial Trigger Point of Upper Trapezius Muscle: A Pilot Study

Table 1

The range of motion upon bending the contralateral side of the cervical spine in two groups before and immediately after acupuncture treatments.

GroupBefore the 1st treatmentAfter the 1st treatmentBefore the 2nd treatmentAfter the 2nd treatmentP value
Pre-1st (degree)Post-1st (degree)DOC* (%)Pre-2nd (degree)DOC*(%) Post-2nd (degree)DOC*(%)Pre-1st versus Post-1stPre-1st versus Pre-2ndPre-1st versus Post-2ndPre-2nd versus Post-2nd

Modified acupuncture 31.0 ± 7.732.8 ± 10.44.5 ± 10.630.1 ± 7.5−1.9 ± 14.735.1 ± 9.014.7 ± 17.20.3080.7270.170
Sham needling35.7 ± 8.934.9 ± 3.81.1 ± 18.833.4 ± 7.2−3.4 ± 24.534.6 ± 8.0−1.6 ± 17.10.7770.5880.7140.452
P value 0.7840.870

Pre-1st: the value before the first treatment; post-1st: the value after the first treatment; pre-2nd: the value before the second treatment; post-2nd: the value after the second treatment; and DOC: degree of change.
Values are mean ± standard deviation or P value.
*Degree of change was calculated by 100%  × (post-treatment value − pre-1st treatment value)/(pre-1st treatment value).
Repeated measured ANOVA was used to compare the values within the same group.
Paired t-test was used to compare the values between two groups.
P < 0.05.