Effects of Medical tattoos on Chronic Upper Back Pain syndrome

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of therapeutic tattooing for chronic upper back muscle pain in 30 volunteers aged 20–60 years who received services at Ruen Sriwichai Thai Traditional Medicine Clinic. A pre-post intervention comparison was conducted. Data were collected using a general information questionnaire, pain intensity assessment using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), cervical range of motion measurement using a goniometer, and pressure pain threshold assessment using a manual algometer. The participants received medical tattoos at the painful areas for a total of three sessions, with a three-day interval between sessions. Each session lasted 20 minutes. The research data were analyzed using Repeated Measures ANOVA.

The results indicated that the mean pain score before therapeutic tattooing was
5.60 ± 0.89, which decreased to 3.46 ± 1.67 after the third session, indicating an average reduction of 2 points. The mean cervical flexion range of motion (chin-to-chest position) increased from
34.00 ± 4.79 degrees before treatment to 42.07 ± 3.85 degrees after the third session. Cervical extension (looking upward) improved from a mean of 31.90 ± 8.96 degrees to 45.40 ± 9.84 degrees. Cervical lateral flexion (ear-to-shoulder position) increased from 29.20 ± 13.65 degrees before treatment to 32.67 ± 2.64 degrees after the third session. Additionally, the mean pressure pain threshold increased from 56.93 ± 18.64 kg/cm² before treatment to 63.47 ± 16.94 kg/cm² after the third session. These differences were statistically significant at a p-value ≤ 0.05.