case_images: PMC11034520_01
case_images: Timeline of the patient's medical history. (A) Timeline of the medical events between the onset of the pain and the current treatment period. Narrative demonstrations of the timeline are in the boxes. (B) Radiological images of the lumbar spine (a: lateral view of X-ray image, b: Sagittal section of T2-weighted magnetic resonance image). Adm, admission; Dx, diagnosis; FIMS, functional intramuscular stimulation; HIVD, herniated intervertebral disc; IMT, integrative medicine treatment; MDD, major depressive disorder; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; MSAT, motions style acupuncture therapy; Tx, treatment.
case_images: fmed-11-1376680-g001.jpg
case_images: PMC11034520_01_fmed-11-1376680-g001.jpg
case_images: fig1
case_images: Although the surgery was successful with no abnormal findings on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT), the patient had no symptomatic changes in the lower back or lower extremities (Figure 1B). Four admissions for integrative medicine treatment, before and after the diagnosis of MDD, did not indicate any pain management strategies (Figure 1A).
case_images: Course of symptoms. (A) Changes in low back pain (LBP), leg pain, physical and mental health scores, measured using the numeric rating scale (NRS) and Short Form-36 (SF-36), respectively. (B) Mean daily walking distances were calculated at baseline (Week 0, before the intervention) and the first to third week during which the intervention was applied, with gradually increased exercise intensity. #p < 0.05, compared with baseline. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01 compared with the first week. Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze statistical significance.
case_images: fmed-11-1376680-g002.jpg
case_images: PMC11034520_01_fmed-11-1376680-g002.jpg
case_images: fig2
case_images: Figure 2A, 3 weeks of graded exercise with MSAT reduced the intensity of LBP and radiative leg pain (NRS: 50 to 30), as well as improved both physical and mental health (SF-36, physical component: 15.0 to 37.2; mental component: 21.9 to 30.1). Furthermore, the physical function of the SF-36, which includes general activities of daily living including walking, climbing stairs, and carrying objects, showed improvement. This improving pattern was maintained in the following 2 weeks as well (4.27 +- 0.96 and 4.72 +- 1.04 km compared to the distance in the first week, p = 0.02 and p = 0.003, respectively) in accordance with gradually intensified exercise (Figure 2B).