Abstract
The trigger points (TrPs) related to chronic low back pain that mimic sciatica have been lately recognized and included in the International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision. This study examined the MATLAB software utility for the objective stratification of low back pain patients using the Minimally Invasive Procedure (MIP). The two diagnostic MIP parameters were: average temperature (ΔTavr) and autonomic referred pain (AURP). Chronic sciatica patients with TrPs (n = 20) and without TrPs (n = 20) were examined using the MIP. A significant increase in both parameters was confirmed for the thigh ROI of the TrP-positive patients, with ΔTavr being the leading parameter (p = 0.016, Exp(β) = 2.603). A continued significance of both parameters was confirmed from 6′00″ to 15′30″ (p < 0.05). The maximum AURP value was confirmed at 13′30″ (p < 0.05) (TrPs(+) 20.4 ± 19.9% vs. TrPs(-) 3.77 ± 9.14%; p = 0.000; CI (0.347,0.348)).
Highlights
One of the technologies applied in modern medicine is imaging performed with an infrared thermography (IRT) camera [1]
The maximum value of the second parameter was confirmed for the Trp-positive subjects at 13 30 (thigh autonomic referred pain (AURP) Trp-positive: 20.4 ± 19.9% vs. thigh AURP Trp-negative: 3.77 ± 9.14%; p = 0.000; CI (0.347, 0.348))
When compared to the manual analysis presented in our previous studies, this automatic MATLAB analysis better revealed the biological nature of the autonomic phenomenon typical of sciatica patients with gluteus minimus trigger points
Summary
One of the technologies applied in modern medicine is imaging performed with an infrared thermography (IRT) camera [1]. ADT is a modern quantitative diagnostic method using external thermal stimuli, exercise, or pressure excitation to provoke a transient, amplified autonomic nervous system (ANS) response. It provides a more visible image contrast and allows a more precise analysis of pathological skin microcirculation [3]. An increasing interest in using an infrared thermography camera as a tool for an objective confirmation of trigger points (TrPs) has been observed [7,8,9]. The palpatory diagnostic criteria established decades ago by Travell and Simons are still applied to TrPs diagnosis [13]
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