Efficacy And Safety Of Latent Myofascial Trigger Points Injection Therapy For Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Background and aim:Irritable bowel syndrome(IBS)is characterized by recurrent chronic abdominal pain and altered bowel movements.The prevalence of IBS is high in the general population.IBS has a negative impact on patients’ life quality.There are various therapies for IBS,but patients’satisfaction with these therapies is low.Abdominal myofascial trigger points can induce gastrointestinal dysfunction.In clinical practice,we have found that the abdominal latent trigger points injection therapy can relieve IBS symptoms.This study aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of the latent myofascial trigger points injection therapy for IBS.Methods:Fifty-two patients with IBS were recruited.These patients were randomly divided into injection group and medicine group according to 1:1 ratio.The injection group was treated by latent myofascial trigger points injection.The medicine group was treated by oral pinaverium bromide combined with probiotics.Before treatment period,patients had to complete two questionnaires,including IBS-SSS and IBS-QOL.At weeks 2,4,8 of follow-up after treatment period,patients were asked to complete IBS-SSS.At weeks 4,8 of follow-up after treatment period,patients needed to complete IBS-QOL.The clinical efficiency was evaluated at months 3 after treatment.We observed the occurrence of adverse events and the usage of rescue medication during the treatment and follow-up periods.The primary endpoint was IBS-SSS.The secondary endpoints were IBS-QOL,clinical efficiency,occurrence of adverse events and the usage of rescue medication.Results:1.Compared with the medicine group,the injection group IBS-SSS scores obviously decreased at weeks 2,4,8 after treatment(P<0.05)and IBS-QOL scores increased obviously at weeks 4,8 after treatment(P<0.05).2.Compared with baseline of each group,IBS-SSS scores were obviously decreased at weeks 2,4,8 after treatment(P<0.05)and IBS-QOL scores were obviously increased at weeks 4,8 after treatment(P<0.05)in both groups.3.At months 3 after treatment,the clinical efficiency of the injection group was higher than that of the medicine group.The rescue medication usage rate of injection group was lower than that of the medicine group.4.There were no serious adverse events in both groups.Conclusions:Abdominal latent myofascial trigger points injection therapy is safe and effective for IBS.Injection therapy is more effective to relieve clinical symptoms and improve quality of life for IBS patients than oral medication.