Objective To observe the clinical effect of cupping combined with acupuncture stimulation of trigger points on lumbar myofascial pain syndrome(MPS).Methods Sixty MPS patients were randomly divided into acupuncture+TDP group(n=30)

and cupping+acupuncture group(n=30).Patients in the acupuncture+TDP group were treated by acupuncture stimulation of trigger points and local TDP irradiation

and patients of the cupping+acupuncture group treated by intensive cupping applied to the myofascial band and acupuncture stimulation of the locus according to the position of muscular tension band.The therapeutic effects were assessed according to the score of the McGill pain questionnaire composing of pain rating index(PRI)

visual analogue scale(VAS)and present pain intensity(PPI)before

immediately and 1month after the treatment.Results After the treatment

the total effective rates of the acupuncture+TDP and cupping+acupuncture groups were 83.3%(25/30)and96.6%(29/30)

respectively

without significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05).One month's follow-up showed that the total effective rates of the acupuncture+TDP and cupping+acupuncture groups were 40.0% and 90.0%respectively

and the latter group was significantly better than the acupuncture+TDP group in the therapeutic effect(P<0.05).The scores of PRI

VAS

PPI after the treatment were markedly decreased in both groups(P<0.05).One month later

the scores of PRI

VAS and PPI in the cupping+acupuncture group were obviously lower than those of the acupuncture group(P<0.05).ConclusionBoth acupuncture stimulation of trigger points plus TDP and cupping plus acupuncture can effectively relieve pain in MPS patients

while the therapeutic effect of cupping plus acupuncture treatment lasts longer analgesic effect.