温控射频联合中医针灸改善产后骶尾关节疼痛的临床研究OA

Objective To explore the improving effect of temperature-controlled radiofrequency combined with traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)acupuncture on postpartum sacrococcygeal joint pain.Methods A total of 162 patients with postpartum sacrococcygeal joint pain admitted to Yueqing People's Hospital from May 2023 to October 2025 were randomly divided into three groups,with 54 cases in each group.All three groups were treated with topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug cream.On this basis,combined treatment group received temperature-controlled radiofrequency plus TCM acupuncture,radiofrequency group received temperature-controlled radiofrequency alone,and acupuncture group received TCM acupuncture alone,with continuous treatment for 3 weeks.Visual analogue scale(VAS)score,pain-inducing substances[substance P(SP),β-endorphin(β-EP),neuropeptide Y(NPY),prostaglandin E2(PGE2)],sitting tolerance time,unassisted standing-up times,Oswestry disability index(ODI),muscle strength of surrounding muscle groups(piriformis,gluteus maximus,transverse abdominis)and patient satisfaction were compared among the three groups.Results After 1,2,and 3 weeks of treatment,the VAS scores in combination group were lower than those in acupuncture group and radiofrequency group,and the VAS scores in acupuncture group were lower than those in radiofrequency group(P<0.05).At 3 weeks after treatment,the serum levels of SP,NPY,and PGE2 in combination group were lower than those in acupuncture group and radiofrequency group,with acupuncture group exhibiting lower levels than radiofrequency group(P<0.05);In contrast,the serum β-EP level in combination group was higher than that in acupuncture group and radiofrequency group,and the level in acupuncture group was higher than that in radiofrequency group(P<0.05).At 3 weeks after treatment,the sitting tolerance time in combination group was longer than that in radiofrequency group and acupuncture group,the number of assisted standingup attempts was fewer,and the ODI score was lower(P<0.05).Moreover,the muscle strengths of the piriformis,gluteus maximus,and transversus abdominis in combination group were higher than those in radiofrequency group and acupuncture group,and the muscle strengths in radiofrequency group were higher than those in acupuncture group(P<0.05).The satisfaction rate in combination group was higher than that in radiofrequency group and acupuncture group(P<0.05).Conclusion Temperature-controlled radiofrequency combined with TCM acupuncture has obvious advantages in improving postpartum sacrococcygeal joint pain,which can effectively alleviate daily activity limitation with high patient satisfaction.The mechanism may be related to regulating the expression of pain-inducing substances and enhancing the muscle strength of the surrounding muscles of the sacrococcygeal joint.