Research Article

TCM Pattern Questionnaire for Lateral Elbow Pain: Development of an Instrument via a Delphi Process

Table 4

Patterns and their indicating signs and symptoms.

ItemExperts agree % ()

(1) Wind-cold-dampness pattern
 () Elbow feels cold to the patient 100
 () Cold exposure increases the pain100
 () Heat exposure relieves the pain 96
 () Patient strongly dislikes cold on the elbow96
 () Patient strongly dislikes wind on the elbow 83
 () Local pressure increases the pain 63
 () Movement increases the pain 79
 () Movement relieves the pain 75
 () Rest relieves the pain 68
 () Nature of pain: Dull/lingering 87
 () Nature of pain: Cramping88
 () Nature of pain: Numbness sensation 96
 () Pain severity: Medium88
 () Pain severity: Severe92
 () Uncomfortableness during movement: Medium79
 () Onset of elbow pain: Slow, gradual onset 72
 () Onset of elbow pain: Sudden onset 80
 () Duration of condition: 1 week–3 months88
 () Duration of condition: Less than 1 week 76
 () Intermittent or constant pain: Constant92
 () Hands and feet usually feel cold (to the patient)79
 () Entire body usually feels heavy68
 () Eating warm food (e.g. chili, pepper, ginger, hot soups) decreases the pain 71
 () Loose stools 68
 () Copious, clear urine79
 () Patient usually feels tired and is easily fatigued 82
 () Elbow feels cold to touch (to the practitioner) 96
 () Pale tongue 91
 () White tongue fur 96
 () Slippery pulse 86
 () String-like pulse 83

(2) Retained dampness-heat pattern
 () Elbow feels hot to the patient100
 () Cold exposure relieves the pain 86
 () Heat exposure increases the pain91
 () Heat exposure relieves the pain 52
 () Patient strongly dislikes heat on the elbow82
 () Local pressure increases the pain 91
 () Movement increases the pain 86
 () Nature of pain: Hot/burning 100
 () Pain severity: Medium82
 () Pain severity: Severe95
 () Uncomfortableness during movement: Medium86
 () Uncomfortableness during movement: Severe90
 () Duration of condition: 1 week–3 months95
 () Intermittent or constant pain: Constant91
 () Scanty, dark-yellow urine 82
 () Patient usually feels restless and/or agitated65
 () Sensation of heaviness of the head 57
 () Usually bitter taste in the mouth, especially in the morning71
 () Usually a sticky taste in the mouth76
 () Elbow is swollen and/or reddened 95
 () Red tongue 91
 () Thick tongue fur77
 () Yellow tongue fur 86
 () Rapid pulse 91
 () Slippery pulse 91
 () Replete (strong) pulse 67

(3) Dual deficiency of qi and blood pattern
 () Elbow feels cold to the patient 90
 () Cold exposure increases the pain95
 () Local pressure relieves the pain90
 () Movement increases the pain 86
 () Rest relieves the pain 90
 () Nature of pain: Dull/lingering 95
 () Nature of pain: Numbness sensation 90
 () Pain severity: Mild 95
 () Pain severity: Medium81
 () Onset of elbow pain: Slow, gradual onset 95
 () Duration of condition: More than 3 months 95
 () Intermittent or constant pain: Constant86
 () Hands and feet usually feel cold (to the patient)81
 () Spontaneous sweating70
 () Limbs usually feel weak 81
 () Numbness sensation in limbs 81
 () Poor appetite 70
 () Loose stools 75
 () Patient usually feels tired and is easily fatigued 86
 () Patient usually feels dizzy60
 () Elbow feels cold to touch (to the practitioner) 81
 () Pale, lusterless face 90
 () Soft voice 80
 () Pale tongue 95
 () Thin tongue fur 86
 () White tongue fur90
 () Fine pulse 95
 () Sunken pulse 75
 () Weak pulse 95

(4) Qi stagnation and blood stasis pattern
 () Local pressure increases the pain 96
 () Movement relieves the pain 83
 () Nature of pain: Stabbing100
 () Nature of pain: Numbness sensation 77
 () Pain severity: Medium87
 () Pain severity: Severe100
 () Uncomfortableness during movement: Mild73
 () Uncomfortableness during movement: Medium96
 () Onset of elbow pain: Slow, gradual onset 79
 () Duration of condition: More than 3 months 79
 () Duration of condition: 1 week–3 months79
 () Intermittent or constant pain: Intermittent 83
 () Intermittent or constant pain: Constant82
 () String-like pulse 92