Electrical Detection of Ear Acupuncture Points and Musculoskeletal Pain

경혈탐측기에 반응한 이혈(耳穴)과 신체 동통 부위와의 관계 연구

Objectives : The objectives of this study were to investigate the relationship between electrical detection of ear acupuncture points and musculoskeletal pain. Methods : 18 adults who have musculoskeletal pain without trauma factorsparticipated in this study. They answered the questionnaire and their ear acupuncture points were examined with electrical detectors. We analyzed the relationship between electrical detection of ear acupuncture points and musculoskeletal pain with concordance rate and validity. Results : Total concordance rates of the head region was 68.00%(questionnaire) 32.08%(investigation), that of vertebral region was 67.86%, 59.38%, that of both upper limbs was 86.67%, 39.69%, and that of both lower limbs was 50.00%, 23.46%. The true positive rate was 0.704, the true negative rate was 0.492, the false positive rate was 0.508, and the false negative rate was 0.296 in the validity test. In the head, two concordance rates of the temporal and occipital regions were relatively higher than those of the parietal and frontal regions. In the vertebral region, two concordance rates of the cervical and lumbar regions were relatively higher than those of the thoracic and sacrum regions. In the upper limb, two concordance rates of the shoulder and shoulder joints were relatively higher than those of the others. In the lower limb, concordance rates of investigation were relatively low at all areas. The right lower limb was relatively higher than the left in concordance rates of the questionnaire. Conclusions : The results suggest that electrical detection of ear acupuncture points can be used in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal pain.