*2.2.1 The first major category*

*Acupuncture - Resolving Old Controversies and Pointing New Pathways*

subsidiary structure due to chronic ischemia and oxygen deficit.

are mostly distributed in or nearby the muscles.

needle is inserted into the subcutaneous layer.

be used separately for treatment of mild illnesses.

range of joint activities is often reduced.

are defined as follows:

**2.1 The clinical evaluation of tightened muscles**

after a break, and it even affects normal life.


clinical symptoms which can often be reduced after a break.

Real-muscular diseases are caused by pathological tension of the muscle and its

Post-muscular diseases refer to a series of diseases caused by the muscles with pathological tensions that affects other organs (e.g., nerve or blood vessels) which

Needle manipulation refers to pushing the needle to a proper depth after the

Sweeping movement refers to a series of parallel and left-to-right movements of

Reperfusion approach is to make tightened muscles contract vigorously within a short time and then relax in order to supply more blood to the ischemic part. It is suggested to provide equal force back by doctors when the muscles contract.

Reperfusion approach is often used during sweeping movement, and it can also

**2. Basic characteristics of tightened muscle and its clinical evaluation**

When patients relax their inspected area and their central nervous systems function normally, practitioners can still feel the "tightness, stiffness, hardness, and slipperiness" feelings when touching the targeting muscles with finger pulps. Patients often have spontaneous discomfort, pains, or obvious abnormal sensations. The joints that are associated with TMs are often weak and lack of strength. The

The muscle tension states are divided into five grades in clinical practice, which

++: Muscles are moderately strained and stiff and are often accompanied by

+++: Muscles are tense and stiff with associated pains and other symptoms. ++++: Muscles are severely tense and stiff, and if touched with finger pulps, some changes like clumps and abnormal muscular band on the muscle belly can be felt. Severe intolerable painful symptoms are often accompanied. There is no relief

+: There is mild muscle tension without obvious clinical symptoms.

the needle in the subcutaneous layer after the needle manipulation.

**1.4 Real-muscular diseases**

**1.5 Post-muscular diseases**

**1.6 Needle manipulation**

**1.7 Sweeping movement**

**1.8 Reperfusion approach**

**22**

Clinical chief complaints that are directly caused by TMs: pain, dysfunction, and lack of power.

The main diseases include cervical spondylosis, tennis elbow, lumbar disc herniation, chronic knee pain, ankle sprain, etc.

The characteristics of muscle-induced pains:

