Sprain and Contusion

Sprain and contusion here refer to the injury of soft tissues , such as skin , muscles and tendons of the trunk or limbs without fracture , dislocation or wound .

Main manifestations are pain and swelling of the injured areas , and motor impairment of the joints .

Etiology and Pathogenesis

Local stagnation of qi and blood in the meridians of diseased areas is due to injury of tendinous tissues and joints by violent movement , awkward posture of the body , bruise , falling , traction or over twisting .

Differentiation

Main manifestations : Local swelling and pain , redness or ecchymosis . A new injury is slightly swollen with tenderness . Large area of swelling together with motor impairment of the joints is found in serious cases . Old injury is characterized by absence of marked swelling but repeated recurrence due to invasion of exogenous pathogenic wind , cold and damp . The injury mostly happens in the shoulder , elbow , wrist , back , hip , knee , and ankle .

Analysis : Sprain or contusion at any place of the body is due to tendinous injury with local qi stagnation and blood stasis , manifested by swelling and pain with tenderness . In a protracted case , qi and blood are consumed , and their circulation in the meridians tends to be further obstructed by exposure to wind , cold and damp . That is why pain is exacerbated in bad weather .

Treatment

Ashi points are used as the principal points . Local and distal points of involved meridians may be combined to ease tendons and activate blood circulation , relieving swelling and pain . Apply needling plus moxibustion to the local points and needling alone to the distal points . Prescription : Ashi points . Supplementary points : Neck : Tianzhu ( B 10 ) , Houxi ( Si3 ) . Shoulder joint : Jianjing ( G 21 ) , Jianyu ( Li15 ) .

Elbow joint : Quchi ( Li11 ) , Hegu ( Li4 ) . Wrist joint : Yangchi ( S J 4 ) , Waiguan ( SJ5 )

Hip joint : Huantiao ( G 30 ) , Yanglingquan ( G 34 ) .

Knee joint : Dubi ( S 35 ) , Neiting ( S 44 ) . Ankle joint : Jiexi ( S 41 ) , Qiuxu ( G 40 ) , Kunlun ( B 60 ) .

Explanation : Local and distal points from the affected meridians are selected to promote the circulation of qi and blood in the meridians . Moxibustion to the local points promotes the circulation of qi and blood by warmth so as to relieve swelling and pain , and to speed up the recovery of the injuried tissues .

Remarks

Needling can be applied to the healthy side at the area corresponding to the affected area . When manipulating the needle , ask the patient to move the sprained joint . Alleviation or subsidence of pain may be expected .