Page 63 - J Trad Med 21-1-2566

J Thai Trad Alt Med Vol. 21 No. 1 Jan-Apr 2023 43

Screening for Back Signaling Point Number 4 Lom Plai Pattakhat Disease:
A Comparison between Thai Therapeutic Massage Examination and
Diagnostic Radiology

Narongsak Chantawang , Ampha Konsue , Pathikhom Phasawang , Rutta Sornsuphap ,
*
*
*,§
†
Nirun Intarut ‡
* Thai Traditional Medicinal Research Unit, Division of Applied Thai Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Medicine,
Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham 44000, Thailand
† Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Suddhavej Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mahasarakham University,
Maha Sarakham 44000, Thailand
‡ Department of Health Systems Science, Faculty of Medicine, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham 44000,
Thailand
§ Corresponding author: narongsak.c@msu.ac.th

Abstract

Physical examination in Thai therapeutic massage (TTM) indicates that the examination by the cervical
extension in the patients with back signaling point number 4 Lom Plai Pattakhat disease (BSP4LDi) can be done
by observing the different levels of the cheekbones on the affected (BSP4LDi) side versus the normal side. If the
BSP4LDi cheekbone side is found higher than normal side, it is assumed that the spur has been formed at the cervi-
cal spine, but if the BSP4LDi cheekbone side is found lower than the normal side, it is assumed that the cervical
spine has collapsed. This study focused on the diagnostic test and aimed to examine the relation between TTM
prognostic theory and diagnostic radiology. The study involved 183 BSP4LDi volunteers who were diagnosed by
an applied Thai traditional medicine specialist. The patients were assessed by measuring the level of the BSP4LDi
cheekbone whether it was higher or lower than the normal side in cervical extension using a goniometer and com-
pared with the image shown from X-ray. The results showed that, among all the 183 participants or volunteers,
86 (47%) had their BSP4LDi cheekbone sides higher than the normal sides, while 97 (53%) had their BSP4LDi
cheekbones lower than the normal sides. The diagnostic radiological examination showed that 167 (91.25%) had
cervical spondylosis, while the diagnostic test’s sensitivity and accuracy values were 91.25%, indicating the relation
between the disease and cervical spondylosis. The vertebral height examination showed that all volunteers (100%)
had normal vertebral height symmetry (Rt = Lt). Cervical spur and collapsed cervical spine were not detected in
the volunteers whose BSP4LDi cheekbones were either higher or lower than the normal sides, although the TTM
examination had found the difference in the cheekbone heights between the BSP4LDi and normal sides. In conclu-
sion, the difference levels of the cheekbones between the BSP4LDi and normal sides when examined with cervical
extension were not related to the vertebral heights detected with diagnostic radiology.
Key words: court type Thai traditional massage, back signaling point number 4 Lom Plai Pattakhat disease,
diagnostic radiology