The Effect of Fu's Subcutaneous Needling Combined with Reperfusion Approach on Surface Electromyography Signals in Patients with Cervical Spondylosis and Neck Pain: A Clinical Trial Protocol.

Background: Neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal diseases. Fu's subcutaneous needling therapy is a special acupuncture method that targets muscle trigger points. It has been proven to have a positive effect on the treatment of neck pain. The access to its curative effect may be related to the improvement of muscle and soft tissue condition. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the outcome of Fu's subcutaneous needling therapy for patients with neck pain by collecting changes in the sEMG of the patient's neck muscles and related data from evaluation scales and explore the feasibility and safety of Fu's subcutaneous needling therapy for neck pain.
Methods: 72 patients meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into FSN group and acupuncture group for corresponding treatment. FSN group was treated once every other day for 5 consecutive treatments; the acupuncture group was treated once a day for 10 consecutive treatments. Result: Outcome indicators were measured at baseline, after the first treatment and the end of the treatment. Primary outcome indicators: average EMG (AEMG) and (mean power frequency) MPF of sternocleidomastoid muscle and superior trapezius muscle. Secondary outcome indicators: Mc Gill pain questionnaire (MPQ), neck disability index (NDI), and adverse reactions. Conclusions: This study will explore the efficacy, safety, and possible mechanism of Fu's subcutaneous needling therapy for patients with neck pain, thus to provide more evidence support for clinical decision-making. This trial is registered with Chinese Clinical Trial Register Center (registration number ChiCTR2100043529).

1. Introduction

Neck pain is the most common and earliest clinical symptom [1, 2] in patients with cervical spondylosis, and its incidence rate is between 10.4% and 21.3%. The neck muscles are sensitive to acute trauma, chronic strain, and other factors. If they cannot be corrected for a long time, the neck muscles will lose their original tension and elasticity and cervical dynamic imbalance caused by cervical muscle fatigue and spasm, which affects the normal motor function and normal physiological curvature of the cervical spine, compresses blood vessels, reduces blood supply, and changes local nutrition and metabolism, then gradually aggravates the morphological changes of the intervertebral discs, accelerates its degeneration, cervical spine dysfunction, and finally, results in cervical spine static imbalance, accompanied by pathological changes and a series of clinical symptoms [3-5]: pain, stiffness, sometimes accompanied numbness, and neuralgia in the shoulders, arms, and fingers [6].

There are many ways to treat neck pain caused by cervical spondylosis. Common clinical methods include oral and external application of drugs [7, 8], physical therapy (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, etc.) [9, 10], and some alternative therapies, such as acupuncture [11] and Chinese herbal medicine [12]. Fu's subcutaneous needling therapy is a special acupuncture method that targets the tightened muscle. It has a positive effect on improving the pain caused by neck muscle and soft tissue injury [13]. Many studies believe that its curative effect may be related to improving the state of muscle and soft tissue. Therefore, it is essential for the assessment and intervention of neck muscle function. Surface electromyography (sEMG) is an important method for noninvasive detection of body surface muscle activity. The sEMG signal can sensitively reflect the activity state of the muscle during exercise, including the degree of muscle fatigue and the size of the muscle force under the test state [14-16]. However, there is no study based on sEMG to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of FSN therapy in relieving neck pain.

In this study, we assumed that the cervical spondylosis patients in the FSN group had better cervical pain relief than the acupuncture group after 10 days of treatment. Therefore, we designed a clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and possible mechanism of FSN therapy for patients with neck pain based on sEMG.

2. Material and Methods

2.1. Study Design and Protocol Registration

The project was evaluated and approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of The People's Hospital of Gaoming District of Foshan City (No. 202002). The study was registered in the China Clinical Trial Registration Center (ChiCTR2100043529) on February 21, 2021, before the participants started to register. The treatment will be performed at The People's Hospital of Gaoming District of Foshan City from June 1, 2021, to December 30, 2022. The total study period for this trial is 10 days (Table 1). The results are reported in accordance with the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) Statement [17]. The flowchart of the trial is shown in Figure 1.

Table 1

The schedule of preintervention, intervention, and evaluation procedures.

	Enrolment	Intervention period
	Preintervention	Intervention	Evaluation procedures
Enrolment
Informed consent	•
Assessment of eligibility	•
Randomisation	•
Interventions
FSN		•
Acupuncture		•
Assessments
AEMG	•		•
MPF	•		•
MPQ	•		•
NDI	•		•
Postoperative complications and adverse events		•	•

Figure 1

Flowchart of the study procedure.

2.2. Recruitment and Eligibility Criteria

All the participants were recruited through The People's Hospital of Gaoming District of Foshan City, who carefully read the project description and sign informed consent form.

Inclusion criteria:

International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition code: M47.812

According to the diagnostic criteria issued by the International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition code: M47.812, determine the diagnosis of neck pain caused by CS.

(2) No gender limit.

(3) Age from 18-60.

(4) No FSN or acupuncture treatment for 1 month before the start of the study.

(5) Tenderness in sternocleidomastoid muscle and superior trapezius muscle.

Exclusion criteria:

A confirmed history of neck trauma.

Vertebral body or spinal canal cancer, tuberculosis, or severe osteoporosis.

History of neck surgery or congenital cervical deformity.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding (women) or mentally disabled.

Serious systemic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, tumor, diabetes, kidney disease, or digestive disease.

2.3. Sample Size

The statistics needed for the calculation were determined based on three studies: the study by Arshadi et al. [16] provided statistical data about sEMG in a similar techniques to those used in this study and those by Chen et al. [18] and Voulgarakis et al. [19] comparing different manual techniques in patients with neck pain provided statistical data about neck disability index (NDI). The highest value obtained is α ≤ 0.05, β ≤ 0.2. Assuming that the dropout rate is 20%, 36 cases need to be included in each group to achieve statistical significance.

2.4. Randomization

Statistical software SPSS20.0 was used to generate a random number table and divide the participants into two groups at a ratio of 1 : 1. The random number was sealed in an opaque envelope, all envelopes were numbered consecutively, and the patient's screening serial number was printed on the outside. A researcher opened the envelope and assigned the patients to the FSN group or the acupuncture group. The researcher was neither involved in the generation of random sequences nor in the evaluation of research results.

2.5. Blinding

All participants, result assessors/data analysts, and other researchers did not know the specific grouping situation. Although therapists could not implement blinding, they were not involved in the evaluation of results or data analysis. In order to ensure the successful implementation of the blinding, we carried out various treatments in a closed room separated by partitions. In addition, before the start of the experiment, all researchers had received specific operational training.

2.6. Study Interventions

2.6.1. FSN Group

Needle: FSN acupuncture needle (Nanjing FSN Medical Co., Ltd., Production NO. 20201021) (Figure 2)

Figure 2

The difference between FSN and acupuncture. (a) Overview of FSN and acupuncture. (b) FSN and FSN instrument. (c) Exploded view of FSN and acupuncture.

Determining tightened muscle: tightened muscle is a concept proposed by Professor Zhonghua Fu, which means that there are one or more myofascial trigger point (MTrP) muscles. MTrP can be touched at the sternocleidomastoid, superior trapezius, and other muscles under examination, which is significantly different from the contralateral side and can be considered as the main tightened muscle.

Confirming the needle inserting point: the tightened muscle was determined by palpation, and the needle was inserted 4-5 cm around the tightened muscle (upper, lower, left, and right), with the tip pointing toward the tightened muscle.

Needle insertion and swaying movement: use Fu's subcutaneous needle feeder and hold the needle feeder close to the skin and press it down slightly. Keep the needle tip upward and eject the needle into the subcutaneous, avoiding the blood vessel. Then, tip the needle, gently lift up the needle, make the needle parallel to the skin, and push the needle gently into the superficial fascia. It is preferable that the patient do not have feelings such as acid, numbness, and swelling. After retracting the needle core into the protective soft tube, fix the needle body with the nail edge of the inner thumb and the middle finger as a fulcrum. The index finger and ring finger are applied to the needle body with one in front and the other in back for continuous uniform horizontal sweep. Enlarge the horizontal sweep area as much as possible. Sweep frequency is 50-100 times/min; time of duration is about 2 min.

Reperfusion approach:

Sternocleidomastoid muscle: the patient was placed in supine position, with the head turned to the healthy side, the neck flexing with maximum limit, and mandibular being adducted. The doctor placed his hand on the affected side of the head to resist.

Upper trapezius muscle: the patient took a sitting position, with the head tilted back to the maximum limit (it is in a horizontal position with the line between the ear tip and the earlobe), and the doctor's hand was placed on the back of the head to resist.

Reperfusion approach required a large range, slow movement, and fewer times. Each reperfusion approach was about 10 seconds, 2-3 times. The amount of resistance required sequential force. After reaching the maximum strength, it was maintained for 1-2 seconds and then gradually relaxes.

(6) Treatment: 1 time every other day, 5 consecutive times as a course of treatment.

2.6.2. Acupuncture Group

Needle: Huatuo acupuncture needles, 0.25 × 25 mm and 0.25 × 40 mm; Production NO. 20120866 (Figure 2)

Point: Fengchi (GB20), Jianjing (GB21), Dazhui (GV14), Fengfu (GV16). (Table 2)

Table 2

The schedule of acupuncture point position.

Acupoint	Acupoint number	Acupoint position
Fengchi	GB20	In the anterior region of the neck, inferior to the occipital bone, in the depression between the origins of sternocleidomastoid and the trapezius muscles.
Jianjing	GB21	In the posterior region of the neck, at the midpoint of the line connecting the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra (C7) with the lateral end of the acromion.
Dazhui	GV14	In the upper back region, in the depression inferior to the spinous process of the first thoracic vertebra (T1), on the posterior median line.
Fengfu	GV16	In the posterior region often neck, directly inferior to the external occipital protuberance, in the depression between the trapezius muscles.

Treatment: the needle was kept for 30 min once a day, and the treatment lasted for 10 days as a course. It was performed by trained and certified acupuncturist with 10 years of clinical experience.

2.7. Outcomes

2.7.1. Primary Outcomes

sEMG (AEMG and MPF). Instruments and equipment: a surface electromyogram analyzer FlexComp Infiniti SA7550, several disposable round dry electrodes with a diameter of about 5.6 cm. The electrode has three heads, and the distance between the anode and the cathode is about 2 cm. They were used to collect myoelectric signals. The ground electrode was used as a reference point. The material and viscosity of the electrode both met the test standard.

Preparation: the patient did not engage in any strenuous physical activity or neck traction within 24 hours before the test. The doctor explained to the patient in detail before the test to familiarize the patient with the test procedure.

Detection time: the sEMG of all patients were detected by the same doctor. There were 3 times of detection, before treatment, after the first treatment, and after the end of one course.

Method: Skin preparation, disinfection, and paste disposable dry electrodes. The direction of the positive and negative electrodes of the electrodes is parallel to the direction of the muscle fibers and is pasted centripetally. Position of adhesion: sternocleidomastoid muscle: the intersection of the lower third of the line between the mastoid process and the superior sternum notch. Upper trapezius: the midpoint of the line between the spinous process of C7 and the posterolateral acromion. The patients were instructed to complete the following two movements, respectively, recording the electromyographic signals of the sternocleidomastoid muscle and the upper trapezius muscle.

Sternocleidomastoid muscle: the patient lined supine and started from the neutral position of the cervical spine, following the doctor's command to make movements, turned the head to the healthy side while maximizing neck flexion and mandibular adduction for 5 seconds, then relaxed and returned to the initial position for 5 seconds, repeating 3 times, 30 seconds in total.

The upper trapezius muscle: bended the head forward to the maximum limit, kept the posture and then start, following the doctor's command to do the movements, stretched the head to the neutral position of the cervical spine for 5 seconds, relax, and return to the starting posture for 5 seconds, repeating 3 times, a total of 30 seconds.

Detect the obtained sEMG signal, and calculate the average EMG (AEMG) and mean power frequency (MPF).

2.7.2. Secondary Outcomes

MPQ [20]: adopted McGill pain questionnaire (MPQ) to score. It is composed of pain grading index (PRI), pain visual analog scale (VAS), and present pain intensity (PPI). The patient's total MPQ scores before treatment, after the first treatment, and after the end of a course of treatment were recorded by the same researcher.

NDI [21]: neck disability index (NDI) scores: 10 aspects were involved, each of which has a score of 0-5 points, and a total score of 0-50 points. The lower the score, the less severe the disability. The patient's total NDI scores before the treatment and after the end of a course of treatment were recorded by the same researcher.

2.8. Criteria for Interrupting Study Participation

Did not receive treatment after included in the trial.

Took any treatment other than this trial without authorization.

Poor compliance, which affected the effectiveness and safety evaluation of the trial.

Failed to receive treatment according to the requirements or the required course of treatment after enrollment, or could not be effectively evaluated due to incomplete collection of trial data.

Aggravation of the disease requires other treatment or induces other serious diseases.

2.9. Safe Grade Evaluation

Level 1: no related adverse reaction

Level 2: the adverse reactions are mild and do not cause substantial harm to the patient's body. No special treatment is required, and the trial can be continued

Level 3: the adverse reaction is moderate, which has a certain impact on the patient's body, but after relevant active treatment, it will not cause substantial harm to the patient, and the trial can still be continued

Level 4: the adverse reaction is serious and has caused substantial harm to the patient's body, and the trial should be terminated immediately

2.10. Data Management

The statistics and analysis of all data in this clinical trial were carried out using the SPSS22.0 system, using ANOVA one-way variance test to analyze differences between groups, and using Pearson's correlation coefficient to analyze correlation. P < 0.05 was used as the standard for statistically significant differences in test data.

3. Results

Test data will be published on the Chinese clinical trial platform or published as a paper.

4. Discussion

Fu's subcutaneous needling therapy is a physical invasive treatment method created by Professor Fu Zhonghua in 1996 [13]. This is a therapy that uses Fu's subcutaneous needling etc. as therapeutic tool, taking the tightened muscle as the target point. The tip of the needle was pointed towards the lesion. The needle body is swept horizontally in the fascia until the pain abates or disappears, and the needle is like floating on the muscle during the process.

Some related studies explore the possible mechanism of Fu's subcutaneous needling therapy from the perspective of connective tissue. During the study on the mechanism of acupuncture, Weidenhamer and Tranquillo [22] proposed that acupuncture will cause the deformation of the extracellular matrix and cytoskeleton in the loose connective tissue layer and generate mechanical pressure sensing in the connective tissue layer, thereby changes the cells and tissues in the tissue layer. Langevin et al.'s research shows that the tissue morphology with the largest change after acupuncture is subcutaneous loose connective tissue [23]. This subcutaneous tissue channel is part of the widest channel passing through the low flow resistance in human body, which can transmit information, material, and energy, clean the channel, and ensure the stability of the microenvironment [24]. Similarly, the insertion level of Fu's subcutaneous needling is also located in the subcutaneous loose connective tissue layer, including deep and shallow fascia. The mechanical load caused by Fu's subcutaneous needling on the loose connective tissue plays a decisive role in Fu's subcutaneous needling [25]. The subcutaneous loose connective tissue is cholesteric liquid crystal state [26]. When mechanical strain occurs under the action of external force, the crystal will induce the phenomenon of electric polarization or electric field, resulting in a positive piezoelectric effect [27]. Since the connective tissue channel is composed of proteins and mucopolysaccharides with semiconductor properties. The loose connective tissue itself has a lot of body fluids; thus, its information transmission speed is 3 times faster than nervous system [28-30]. The positive piezoelectric effect spreads rapidly through the channel. When the stimulation is delivered to specific effect organs and corresponding pathological tissues, the inverse piezoelectric effect will be generated. The current is then changed into the required chemical or mechanical energy. Then, effectively change the membrane of various ion channels and change the permeability of the membrane, to adjust the cell function and quickly alleviate the corresponding pain.

There are many limitations to this study. First of all, there may be differences among genders, ages, and other diseases of patients, so subgroup analysis may be required to determine the effectiveness of FSN for different subgroups. Secondly, since this study was conducted in China and most of the participants were Chinese, whether FSN is effective for other races needs to be confirmed by multicenter studies in the future. Third, the degree of neck pain was not discussed on a grading basis. Finally, the sample size in this study is limited, and the sample size should be further expanded in subsequent studies.