Moxibustion in patients with shoulder bursitis

Abstract

Introduction: Bursitis of the shoulder causes a significant limitation of movements in this joint, which implies functional disability for the patient in his daily activities.

Objective: To determine the effects of moxibustion treatment in patients suffering from shoulder bursitis.

Method: A cross-sectional descriptive study was developed in patients with shoulder bursitis, who attended the Comprehensive Rehabilitation Room of Julio Grave de Peralta Polyclinic, from January to June 2024. The universe consisted of 35 patients between 26 and 54 years old who attended the referred service, in the indicated period; the sample was selected by an intentional sample that included patients who completed all the treatment sessions and whose medical records were complete; thus, it was constituted by 21 patients.

Results: The patients between 41 and 54 years of age represented 61.90%, the female sex predominated in 66.67% and 47.62% reported pain that was very difficult to bear. Moxibustion was used in 61.90%, without other natural and traditional medicine techniques; pain relief started from the fifth session and reached its maximum value in the ninth, in which 47.6% reported pain relief.

Conclusions: Moxibustion, without other associated techniques, turned out to be the most effective treatment for pain relief in shoulder bursitis.

Keywords: bursitis, traditional medicine, pain, moxibustion