The Management of Kai Puja Poruthu Varmam (Varmam Injury of Shoulder Joint) in Siddha System of Medicine – A Case Series

Abstract

Introduction: Siddha medicine has a huge repository of Materia medica, diagnostic tools, internal medicine and external therapeutic methods. Among external therapeutic methods, Varmam therapy is non-invasive and effective in treating many diseases especially pain management in Musculo-skeletal and neurological diseases. Kai Puja Poruthu Varmam is a clinical condition with pain and restriction of movement in the shoulder joint. The clinical features may be correlated with Shoulder Impingement syndrome characterised by pain in the shoulder and the upper arm during the mid-range movement of gleno-humeral abduction from 60°-120°. It may be acute or gradual onset depending upon the cause. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of Varmam therapy in the management of Acute and Chronic shoulder impingement syndrome (Varmam injury of shoulder joint). Methods: A clinical study was conducted on 5 subjects who visited Varma maruthuvam OPD in Ayothidoss Pandithar hospital, National Institute of Siddha with the clinical features of Kai Puja Poruthu Varmam (Shoulder Impingement syndrome). The Shoulder Impingement syndrome was diagnosed in these patients with the positive findings of Neer’s impingement test, Hawkin’s test and Jobe’s test. These subjects were treated with the specific Varmam protocol along with the OPD medicines. The Varmam protocol was given for 5 consecutive days. Result: There is a significant reduction in the pain, disability and improvement in the range of movement by specific Varmam protocol. Conclusion: Varmam therapy showed effective and promising improvement in the management of acute Kai Puja Poruthu Varmam.