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| Effects of Rapid Acupuncture at Trigger Points of Subscapularis Combined with Traditional Acupuncture on Local Morphology，Inflammatory Levels and Related Proteins in Rats with Scapulohumeral Periarthritis |
| Hits 102 Download times 78 Received:March 20, 2026 |
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| DOI
10.11656/j.issn.1673-9043.2026.08.10 |
| Key Words
rapid needling at trigger point;frozen shoulder;joint range of motion;histomorphology;cytokines |
| Author Name | Affiliation | | YAN Chao | Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300193, China | | XU Nuo | Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China | | WANG Aidi | Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300193, China | | SONG Yanqi | Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300193, China | | LIU Baoshan | Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300193, China |
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| Abstract
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| [Objective] To observe the improvement of shoulder joint range of motion and the expression levels of inflammatory factors（TNF-α，IL-1α/β）and TGF-β protein in joint capsule effusion of frozen shoulder（FS）model rats treated with combined therapy，and to explore the mechanism of rapid needling at trigger points of the subscapularis muscle in the treatment of FS. [Methods] Twelve week old male SD rats were selected，and FS models were established by surgical immobilization. The rats were randomly divided into a blank group，a model group，a traditional acupuncture group，a rapid trigger point needling group，and a combined treatment group. After intervention，the shoulder joint range of motion（abduction angle，external rotation angle） was measured. HE staining was used to observe morphological changes of the shoulder joint. The levels of inflammatory factors such as TNF-α in joint capsule effusion were determined by ELISA. The expression level of TGF-β protein in rat shoulder joint tissues was detected by Western blot. [Results] Compared with the blank group，the affected shoulder joint range of motion of rats in the model group was significantly restricted（P<0.000 1）. After continuous application of different treatment regimens，the joint range of motion improved to varying degrees，with the most significant efficacy observed in the combined treatment group. HE staining results showed that the model group exhibited obvious disorganization of tendon fiber structure，synovial tissue thickening，increased capillaries，and inflammatory cell infiltration. After intervention，all treatment groups showed significant improvement in histopathological changes，especially in the combined treatment group. Compared with the blank group，the levels of inflammatory factors TNFα，IL1α/β，and TGFβ in shoulder joint cavity fluid of rats in the model group were significantly elevated（P<0.001）. Compared with the model group，the levels of inflammatory factors in the treatment groups were significantly reduced. Moreover，compared with the traditional acupuncture group and rapid trigger point needling group，the levels of TNF-α，IL-1α/β，and TGF-β in the combined treatment group were further reduced（P<0.05）. Compared with the blank group，the TGF-β protein level in the model group was significantly elevated（P<0.001）. Compared with the model group，the TGF-β protein levels in the treatment groups were significantly reduced，with the combined treatment group showing the most significant reduction（P<0.05）. [Conclusion] The combined treatment can effectively improve the joint range of motion and pathological state of FS model rats，and reduce the expression levels of inflammatory factors such as TNF-α and TGF-β protein，demonstrating good therapeutic effects on the rat model of frozen shoulder. |
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