Effects of Warm-Needle Moxibustion Combined with Exercise Therapy on the Range of Motion and Pain of the Affected Shoulder After Rotator Cuff Injury Surgery
Abstract:Objective:To observe the effects of warm-needle moxibustion combined with exercise therapy on the range of motion and pain of the affected shoulder after rotator cuff injury surgery. Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on 118 patients who underwent rotator cuff injury surgery at Lishui People's Hospital from January to December 2024. They were divided into the trial group and the control group based on different treatment methods,with 59 cases in each group. The control group received exercise therapy, while the trial group received warm-needle moxibustion combined with exercise therapy. Both groups were treated continuously for 60 days. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, Constant-Murley Score (CMS) of shoulder function, University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder scale score, and shoulder range of motion were compared between the two groups before treatment and at 30,45,and 60 days after treatment. The incidence of adverse reactions was also recorded. Results: At 30,45,and 60 days after treatment,the VAS scores in both groups gradually decreased over time (P<0.05);the VAS scores in the trial group were lower than those in the control group at the same time point (P<0.05). At 30,45, and 60 days after treatment, the CMS and UCLA shoulder scale scores in both groups gradually increased over time( P<0.05);the CMS and UCLA shoulder scale scores in the trial group were higher than those in the control group at the same time point (P<0.05). After 60 days of treatment,the shoulder flexion and external rotation range of motion in both groups increased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05); the shoulder flexion and external rotation range of motion in the trial group was greater than that in the control group (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: Warmneedle moxibustion combined with exercise therapy can improve shoulder range of motion and reduce pain in patients after rotator cuff injury surgery,without increasing adverse reactions.