热敏灸机器人变频循经往返灸治疗非特异性腰痛随机对照研究OA

Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of a heat-sensitive moxibustion robot that performs frequency-conversion Shuttle Moxibustion along Meridians in patients with non-specific low back pain(NSLBP),to characterise the Deqi specificity of distinct round-trip parameters,and to provide an evidence base for individualised moxibustion protocols.Methods:108 participants enrolled with NSLBP who received outpatient and inpatient treatment at Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine from October 2024 to February 2025,were randomly allocated to three groups(n=36 each):(1)frequency-conversion heat-sensitive shuttle moxibustion along meridians group(FC),(2)non-frequency-conversion heat-sensitive shuttle moxibustion along meridians group 1(NFC-1),and(3)non-frequencyconversion heat-sensitive shuttle moxibustion along meridians group 2(NFC-2).All interventions were delivered robotically with parameter sets unique to each group.Deqi and sensation transmission for moxa-induced sensation were recorded during treatment.Visual Analogue Scale(VAS),Present Pain Intensity(PPI),and Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire(RMDQ)scores were obtained before and after treatment;clinical efficacy was compared across groups.Results:Inter-group comparisons revealed significant heterogeneity in Deqi latency,cumulative Deqi duration,total Deqi score,and moxa-sensation(P<0.05).Post-hoc analyses indicated that the FC group cohort outperformed both in NFC-1 group and NFC-2group(P<0.05),whereas the two non-frequency-conversion subgroups exhibited negligible mutual divergence(P>0.05).After therapy,VAS,PPI,and RMDQ values declined markedly within every group(P<0.01);the FC group achieved significantly greater reductions than the NFC-1 and NFC-2 groups(P<0.01),while no significant difference was observed between the NFC-1 and NFC-2 groups(P>0.05).After therapy,in terms of clinical remission rate,again favouring FC group over either fixed-speed protocol(P<0.05),while NFC-1 group and NFC-2 group remained statistically indistinguishable(P>0.05).Total effective rates did not differ among the three cohorts(P>0.05).Conclusion:Frequency-conversion shuttle moxibustion along meridians implemented by a heat-sensitive robotic system elicits a more robust Deqi response and affords superior symptomatic relief in NSLBP compared with non-frequency-conversion techniques,supporting its preferential adoption for individualised clinical application.