Pulse Oximetry and Acupuncture in Patients With Pain Syndrome

Abstract

Abstract

Background:

Despite the benefits of acupuncture in the management of pain, there is still a lack of readily applicable, objective evidence of its effect. The association between musculoskeletal pain and local vascular spasm implied that the painful area might have a low level of blood saturation.

Objective:

To determine if pulse oximetry can assess blood stagnation in patients receiving acupuncture treatment for pain.

Design, Setting, and Patients:

Pulse oximetry was measured in 7 patients (4 men, aged 18–68 years) at a private clinic in Nicosia, Cyprus, August-December 2009, who received acupuncture treatment for musculoskeletal pain.

Main Outcome Measures:

Change in pain intensity as well as functional independence by the end of acupuncture sessions and corresponding values of Spo₂.

Results:

Improvement in pain control in all patients was associated with changes in Spo₂. Spo₂ values on the painful extremity were 4% lower than those on the healthy side (93.3% ± 2.8% vs 97% ± 2.6%, respectively, P < .05). Assessment of these values after acupuncture did not show a significant difference between them (95.7% ± 2.1% on pain side vs 97.0% ± 2.6% on healthy side, P > .05). Conversely, there was a statistically significant difference in Spo₂ values of the painful extremity before and after acupuncture treatment (93.3% ± 2.8% vs 95.7% ± 2.1%, respectively, P < .05).

Conclusion:

The association between Spo₂ and pain status indicates the possibility of using pulse oximetry for the objective assessment of painful syndromes in patients undergoing acupuncture treatment.