Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine the intrarater and interrater reliabilities of infrared image analysis of forearm acupoints before and after moxibustion. In this work, infrared images of acupoints in the forearm of 20 volunteers (M/F, 10/10) were collected prior to and after moxibustion by infrared thermography (IRT). Two trained raters performed the analysis of infrared images in two different periods at a one-week interval. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated to determine the intrarater and interrater reliabilities. With regard to the intrarater reliability, ICC values were between 0.758 and 0.994 (substantial to excellent). For the interrater reliability, ICC values ranged from 0.707 to 0.964 (moderate to excellent). Given that the intrarater and interrater reliability levels show excellent concordance, IRT could be a reliable tool to monitor the temperature change of forearm acupoints induced by moxibustion.
Highlights
In recent years, in light of technological advances, various kinds of modern techniques have been applied widely in the research on the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine
intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values of intrarater ranged from 0.766 to 0.994, and the lowest value appeared at LU 5, with a substantial reliability level
ICC values of interrater ranged from 0.707 to 0.944, and the lowest value occurred at LU 5, with a moderate reliability level
Summary
In light of technological advances, various kinds of modern techniques have been applied widely in the research on the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine. Given that IRT can measure mid to longwave infrared radiation emanating from all objects and convert it into a temperature value [7], it can analyze the distribution of skin surface temperature sensitively and efficiently, and previous studies indicated that IRT is an aid tool to investigate the thermal properties of acupoints. It could monitor the temperature change of acupoints induced by stimulation of acupuncture or moxibustion. Deng et al [9] applied laser acupuncture to stimulate Houxi (SI 3) of the small intestine meridian, and they observed a significant temperature increase of 1.5°C in the distal site
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