Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a temperature-pressure-visualized electro-heating bian-stone warming in treating upper back myofascial pain syndrome, and to provide a reference for alleviating the pain symptoms by appropriate Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) technologies. Methods: A total of 60 patients with upper back myofascial pain syndrome admitted to a tertiary grade A TCM hospital in Beijing from November 2024 to May 2025 were selected using the convenience sampling method and randomly assigned to the intervention group (n=30) and the control group (n=30). The control group received a two-week course of topical application of Voltaren? ointment to the affected area. The intervention group was treated with a two-week course of the temperature-pressure-visualized electro-heating bian-stone warming technique. Improvements were evaluated using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), the Global Pain Scale (GPS), and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Results: At 2 weeks of intervention and 2 weeks of follow-up, the NRS scores of the intervention group were 2.77±1.46 and 2.13±1.78 respectively, both lower than those of the control group (4.13±0.97 and 4.07±1.31 respectively), with statistically significant differences (both P<0.05); at the 2 weeks of follow-up, the GPS score of the intervention group was lower than that of the control group (P<0.05); meanwhile, at 2 weeks of intervention and 2 weeks of follow-up, the ISI scores of the intervention group were lower than those of the control group (both P<0.05). Conclusion: The temperature-pressure-visualized electro-heating bian-stone warming can significantly alleviate pain symptoms and improve sleep quality in patients with upper back myofascial pain syndrome.

Key words: electro-heating bian-stone; temperature; pressure; warming and ironing technique; upper back myofascial pain syndrome; pain nursing