Study On The Meridian And Acupoints Of The Three Yin Meridians Of Foot In Type III Chronic Prostatitis

ObjectiveThis research aims to describe and characterise the phenomenon of positive reaction points("yangxing points")along the Three Yin Meridians of the Foot in patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome(CP/CPPS)compared to healthy controls.Methods32 male patients with CP/CPPS and 30 healthy male controls were recruited in this study.Traditional meridian palpation method and pressure algometry method were used to examine the reaction of acupoints along the Three Yin Meridians of the Foot.Statistical analysis was performed to determine if there is a difference in the frequency of positive reaction points between patients with CP/CPPS and healthy controls,as well as difference in pain threshold using pressure algometer.ResultsCharacteristics of positive reaction points:1.Patients with CP/CPPS have higher frequency of positive reaction points along the Three Yin Meridians of the Foot compared to healthy controls and this is statistically significant.2.In patients with CP/CPPS,there is a higher frequency of positive reaction points along the spleen meridian compared to liver and kidney meridians.However,in healthy controls,there is no statistically significant difference in the frequency of positive reaction points between all three meridians.3.The significant acupoints along the spleen meridian with high frequency of positive reaction points are Sanyinjiao(SP6),Yinlingquan(SP9),Diji(SP8)and Shangqiu(SP5).The following spleen meridian acupoints show significant difference in the frequency of positive reaction points between patients with CP/CPPS and healthy controls:Sanyinjiao(SP6),Yinlingquan(SP9),Diji(SP8)and Shangqiu(SP5).4.The significant acupoints along the liver meridian with high frequency of positive reaction points are Ligou(LR5),Ququan(LR8)and Zhongdu(LR6).The following liver meridian acupoints show significant difference in the frequency of positive reaction points between patients with CP/CPPS and healthy controls:Ligou(LR5),Ququan(LR8)and Zhongfeng(LR4).5.The significant acupoints along the kidney meridian with high frequency of positive reaction points are Taixi(KI3)and Shuiquan(KI5).The following kidney meridian acupoints show significant difference in the frequency of positive reaction points between patients with CP/CPPS and healthy controls:Taixi(KI3).Characteristics of pain threshold value6.The pain threshold value,indicated by median pressure score on algometer,is significantly lower across all acupoints in patients with CP/CPPS compared to healthy control.Predictors of positive reaction points7.CPSI pain score and overall CPSI score predict the presence of positive reaction points along spleen meridian.IPSS score predicts the presence of positive reaction points along kidney meridian.There are no predictors of positive reaction points along liver meridian.Conclusion1.There is a higher frequency of positive reaction points in patients with CP/CPPS,suggesting that the Three Yin Meridian of the Foot is closely related to CP/CPPS.2.The significant acupoints that show high frequency of positive reaction points are:Sanyinjiao(SP6),Yinlingquan(SP9),Diji(SP8),Shangqiu(SP5),Ligou(LR5),Ququan(LR8),Zhongdu(LR6),Taixi(KI3)and Shuiquan(KI5),suggesting presence of interaction between these acupoints and the pathophysiology of CP/CPPS.3.In patients with CP/CPPS,there is a higher frequency of positive reaction points along the spleen meridian,suggesting that the spleen meridian is more closely related to CP/CPPS compared to the liver and kidney meridians.Acupuncture therapy in patients with CP/CPPS should place more emphasis on the spleen meridian.4.High CPSI pain score predicts the presence of positive reaction points along the spleen meridian.Therefore,in the treatment of CP/CPPS patients with predominant pain symptoms,the spleen meridian should be focused on,especially Sanyinjiao(SP6),Yinlingquan(SP9),Diji(SP8),Shangqiu(SP5).5.High IPSS score,which reflects severity of urinary symptoms,predicts the presence of positive reaction points along the kidney meridian.Therefore,in the treatment of CP/CPPS patients with predominant urinary symptoms,the kidney meridian should be focused on,especially Taixi(KI3)acupoint.