Modulation of Brain Activity in Patients with Acute Non-Specific Low Back Pain by Wentong Guan Therapy: A Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Study

Background: Wentong Guan Therapy (WTG) integrates techniques from Chinese massage, moxibustion, scraping, and cupping. Its analgesic mechanisms remain unclear. The brain functional network in patients with acute non-specific low back pain (ANSLBP) is impaired, and central nervous system regulation is one of the important mechanisms through which traditional Chinese medicine external therapies alleviate pain and functional impairment in ANSLBP. This study neurophysiologically evaluates WTG's pain modulation effect on the cerebral cortex in acute non-specific low back pain (ANSLBP). Methods: Twelve ANSLBP patients received a single WTG session. Subjective pain (Visual Analogue Scale, VAS), pressure pain threshold (PPT) using a force-measuring glove, and cortical hemodynamic changes via functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) were assessed pre- and post-treatment. False discovery rate (FDR) corrected multiple comparisons. Results: in SAC (CH33) negatively correlated with ΔPPT (P=0.045, r=-0.587). Conclusion: in the SAC may be a potential biomarker for WTG's analgesia.