Operational and Intervention Effects of Targeted Tuina in Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Degeneration Model Rabbits

Summary

The finger tactile measurement system quantifies tactile pressure on the finger using a highly sensitive electrosurgical pressure sensor, with software displaying and accurately recording the pressure data and video in real time. Two analysis modules unify the data processing for thumb tracking and conditioning during Tuina.

Abstract

Tui Na or massage therapy alleviates symptoms related to intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). However, precise, repeatable, standardized instructions for Tuina manipulation are lacking. This study establishes IDD model rabbits induced by fibrous ring puncture, creates targeted Tuina stimulation protocols at the acupuncture points in the lumbar region, and describes in detail the operation methods and requirements of kneading, pointing, and flicking. New Zealand male white rabbits (n = 15) were selected and randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, and a Tuina group. The rabbits in the model group and the Tuina group were molded by fibrous ring puncture; the rabbits in the model group were only immobilized on the operating table without treatment. In contrast, the Tuina group used the "8N/10N, 30 cycles/min" prescription for kneading, pointing, and flicking to perform the intervention, using tactile sensory aids to monitor and regulate the intensity of the Tuina operation. Imaging diagnosis and pathological tests were used to assess the effect of Tuina in rabbits, and the results showed improved imaging features and significantly lowered pathology scores of lumbar disc degeneration in the Tuina group compared to the model group (P < 0.01). Targeted Tuina in the lumbar region may be beneficial in the alleviation of lumbar disc degeneration, but further verification is needed. By regularly performing Tuina and recording the mechanical information involved enables reproducible manipulation prescriptions and helps to observe the basic features of the underlying mechanism of Tuina for IDD.

Introduction

The age of onset of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is becoming increasingly younger, with studies showing¹ that the prevalence of IDD is approximately 35% of subjects aged 20 to 39 years involving at least one lumbar level, and all individuals aged 60 to 80 years have IDD. The deleterious effects associated with IDD are widespread, and the disability is found to be positively associated with the degree of IDD in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies^2,3. Although conventional treatments such as bed rest, functional exercise, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and ....

Protocol

The Animal Experimental Ethics Committee at Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine reviewed and authorized all study protocols (approval number CUTCM-2021-23), and all operations of this protocol followed the committee's guidelines. New Zealand male young and strong white rabbits (n = 15) were selected weighing 2.5 ± 0.2 kg, provided by Chengdu Dashuo Experimental Animal Co., Ltd., experimental animal license number: SCXK (Su) 2017-0002. Standard animal housing conditions were 20-26 °C, 50%-70% .......

Discussion

Considering the structural and functional complexity of IVD, we chose rabbits as a constructive model for IDD disease, which is characterized by an abnormal cell-mediated response to progressive structural damage. Animal models of various species, such as rabbits, rats, and dogs, have been used to study changes in structural, biological, and biochemical properties during degeneration^23,24,25. However, when comparing the results .......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
0.3 T Veterinary Maenetic Resonance lmaging(MRI)	NINGBO CHUANSHANJIA	CSJ-MR
Alcohol medical	LIRCON	20230107
Benzylpenicillin potassium	Jiangxi Keda Animal Pharmaceutical	140051251
FingerTPS Finger Tactile Measurement System	TPS
FingerTPS guard	TPS	CSU8-10N
Haemostatic forceps	SHINVA	20211239
Injection syringe	CONPUVON	20153151307	1 mL, 5 mL, 10 mL
Knife blades	Hons Medincal	20210615
Medical absorbent cotton ball	Cofoe	20210006
Medical suture needle	Shanghai Xiaoyi Medical Devices	20192020430
Medullo-puncture needle	Yangzhou Jiangzhou Medical Devices	20190902	Used to puncture lumbar disc
Physiological saline	NeilMed	C1210504D2
Povidone iodine solution	Sichuan IJIS Medical Technology	20221209
PPS Chameleon TVR software	TPS
Quasi-microbalance	Explorer
Rabbit dissection operating table	Zhenhua Biomedical	ZH-BXT-3Z	Used to immobilize rabbits
Shaver	AUX
Sterile gauze	Cofoe	20202140675
Surgical gloves	DR.LERSH	20172140028
Surgical knife	Hons Medincal	20210019
Surgical tweezers	SHINVA	20210233
USB-C data transmission line	KINI
White light photography microscope	Nikon	Eclipse Ci-L