Investigation of deficiency and excess characteristics in traditional medicine among patients with musculoskeletal disorders

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics of Excess and Deficiency patterns according to Traditional Medicine and explore associated factors in patients with musculoskeletal disorders. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 206 patients diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis and/or lumbar spondylosis and/or rheumatoid arthritis and/or periarthritis humeroscapularis who came for treatment at Hue Traditional Medicine Hospital. Results: The prevalence of Excess pattern was 35.9%, Deficiency pattern was 22.3%, combined Excess and Deficiency pattern was 27.2%, and neither Excess nor Deficiency was 14.6%. In the group of symptoms of Excess pattern: 26.7% of patients had a red tongue, 60.7% had a strong pulse, and 80.1% experienced constant pain. In the Deficiency pattern’s symptoms group: 28.2% had a pale tongue, 46.6% had a deep pulse, and 79.6% experienced migrating pain. The study found significant associations between the Excess-Deficiency condition and tongue shape and color, pulse strength, onset context, pain characteristics and pain intensity (p<0.05). Conclusion: The proportion of patients with Excess syndrome was the highest, neither Excess nor Deficiency was the lowest. Common symptoms in the Excess pattern included thick tongue coating, strong pulse, and constant pain, whereas the Deficiency group frequently presented with thin tongue coating, deep pulse, and migrating pain. The Excess-Deficiency classification was significantly associated with tongue and pulse characteristics, localized pain manifestations.