Download Clinical Manifestations

Acupuncture Treatment of
Diseases
Traumatology 2: Elbow Strain
肘劳
Definition:
1. In the category of “injury of the muscle and tendon”.
2. Usually slow onsets with repeated attacks without
trauma.
3. Frequently seen in people who have to rotate their
forearm and stretch their elbows in order to work.
4. Known as external humeral epicondylitis, internal
epicondylitis and inflammation of the olecranon in
western medicine.
Causes and Pathogenesis :
Mainly caused by:
1. Chronic injury and overuse of the elbow joint that result in
the impairment of qi and blood leading to blood fails to
nourish the muscles and tendons.
2. As a result from the above situation, external wind and cold
invade the body (on the muscle region), particularly in the
region of the three Yang Channels of the hand (elbow
region).
Clinical Manifestations:
Chief symptoms:
i.
ii.
iii.
Pain upon elbow movement.
Occasionally radiates to the forearm, wrist or
even up to the upper arm region.
Local swelling may not be obvious but there is
an obvious fixed tender point.
Clinical Manifestations:
1. Muscle region of the Hand Yangming type
Stated manifestations with:
i.
Obvious tender point on the lateral and superior
aspect of the elbow joint (around the lateral
epicondyle of the humeral).
Clinical Manifestations:
2. Muscle region of the Hand Taiyang type
Stated manifestations with:
i.
Obvious tender point on the medial and
inferior aspect of the elbow joint (around the
medial epicondyle of the humeral).
Clinical Manifestations:
3. Muscle region of the Hand Shaoyang type
Stated manifestations with:
i.
Obvious tender point on the posterior and
inferior aspect of the elbow joint (around the
olecranon).
Treatment : General principle
•
Dredge qi and blood in the local channel, relax
muscles and tendons and relieve pain.
•
Principle Channels and Acupoints:
1. Ashi points for all three types.
Principle acupoints :
1. Ashi acupoint 阿是穴.
Supplementary points (May add in moxibustion)
Based on the location of the injury:
i. Muscle region of the Hand Yangming type
• LI 4 Hegu 合谷.
• LI 10 Shousanli 手三里.
• LI 11 Quchi 曲池.
ii. Muscle region of the Hand Taiyang type
• SI 5 Yanggu 阳谷.
• SI 8 Xiaohai 小海.
iii. Muscle region of the Hand Shaoyang type
• TE 5 外关.
• TE 10 天井.
Prescription explanation (Principle acupoint):
1. Ashi acupoints 阿是穴:
•
Together with the local and distal acupoints along
the involved channel chosen to dredge qi and
blood in the local channel, relax muscles and
tendons and relieve pain.
TCM medical advises:
1. Avoid cold and raw food.
2. Avoid invasion by pathogenic wind, cold and
damp.
3. Important to differentiate from fracture.