Journal of Acupuncture Research

  • Volume 41
  • /
  • Pages.184-190
  • /
  • 2024
  • /
  • 2586-288X(pISSN)
  • /
  • 2586-2898(eISSN)
Korean Acupuncture & Moxibustion Medicine Society (대한침구의학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Impact of Muscle Contraction and Acupuncture on the Electrical Impedance of the Heart Meridian Points in Healthy Young Adults

  • Kelly Zhang (Department of Health Sciences, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo) ;
  • Gustavo Henrique de Mello Rosa (Department of Health Sciences, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo) ;
  • Isabela Mayumi Pupo Nogueira d'Avila (Department of Health Sciences, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo) ;
  • Manoela Gallon Pitta (Department of Health Sciences, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo) ;
  • Joao Eduardo de Araujo (Department of Health Sciences, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo)
  • Received : 2024.06.26
  • Accepted : 2024.07.17
  • Published : 2024.08.01
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Acupuncture involves stimulating points with lower electrical impedance (EI). Understanding EI changes with needle and exercise stimuli can elucidate acupuncture mechanisms. This study included 60 subjects, divided into control (C) and acupuncture (A) groups. EI was assessed at four points: 0 (before procedures), I (after handgrip protocol [HGP]), II (after 20 minutes of rest), and III (after 20 minutes of rest in C or stimulation in A, followed by HGP in both groups). Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. In the A group, EI was significantly reduced at HT3, shown by increased % microampere when comparing assessments I, II, and III with assessment 0 (p < 0.005). Intergroup comparisons revealed a reduced % microampere when comparing assessments II (p < 0.02) and III (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, the stimulation of an acupoint over a motor nerve branch changes the EI.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

Kelly Zhang, Gustavo Henrique de Mello Rosa, and Manoela Gallon Pitta were supported by a scholarship from the Coordination of Superior-Level Staff Improvement (CAPES). The funders did not have any role in the study design, data collection, data analysis, writing the manuscript, and the decision to submit the results for publication.

References

  1. Matos LC, Machado JP, Monteiro FJ, Greten HJ. Understanding traditional Chinese medicine therapeutics: an overview of the basics and clinical applications. Healthcare (Basel) 2021;9:257. doi: 10.3390/healthcare9030257
  2. Langevin HM, Yandow JA. Relationship of acupuncture points and meridians to connective tissue planes. Anat Rec 2002;269:257-265. doi: 10.1002/ar.10185
  3. Pitta MG, Zhang K, Rosa GH, Rangon FB, Guirro EC, da Silva ML, et al. Evaluating dielectric properties for assessing water content at acupuncture points: new methodology. J Acupunct Meridian Stud 2024;17:86-93. doi: 10.51507/j.jams.2024.17.3.86
  4. Reilly JP. Electrical stimulation and electropathology. Cambridge University Press. 1992:22-24.
  5. Vargas Luna JL, Krenn M, Cortes Ramirez JA, Mayr W. Dynamic impedance model of the skin-electrode interface for transcutaneous electrical stimulation. PLoS One 2015;10:e0125609. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0125609 Erratum in: PLoS One 2015;10:e0130368.
  6. Moro MZ, de Oliveira Vidal EI, Pinheiro Modolo NS, Bono Fukushima F, Moreira de Barros GA. Dry needling, trigger point electroacupuncture and motor point electroacupuncture for the treatment of myofascial pain syndrome involving the trapezius: a randomised clinical trial. Acupunct Med 2024;42:3-13. doi: 10.1177/09645284231207865
  7. Li J, Wang Q, Liang H, Dong H, Li Y, Ng EH, et al. Biophysical characteristics of meridians and acupoints: a systematic review. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2012;2012:793841. doi: 10.1155/2012/793841
  8. Chen Y, Li D, Li N, Loh P, Guo Y, Hu X, et al. Role of nerve signal transduction and neuroimmune crosstalk in mediating the analgesic effects of acupuncture for neuropathic pain. Front Neurol 2023;14:1093849. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1093849
  9. Xie Z, Cui F, Zou Y, Bai L. Acupuncture enhances effective connectivity between cerebellum and primary sensorimotor cortex in patients with stable recovery stroke. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2014;2014:603909. doi: 10.1155/2014/603909
  10. Nakagawa K, Bergquist AJ, Yamashita T, Yoshida T, Masani K. Motor point stimulation primarily activates motor nerve. Neurosci Lett 2020;736:135246. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2020.135246
  11. Yang F, Zhang X, Xie X, Yang S, Xu Y, Xie P. Intramuscular nerve distribution patterns of anterior forearm muscles in children: a guide for botulinum toxin injection. Am J Transl Res 2016;8:5485-5493.
  12. Schulz KF, Altman DG, Moher D; CONSORT Group. CONSORT 2010 statement: updated guidelines for reporting parallel group randomised trials. BMJ 2010;340:c332. doi: 10.1136/bmj.c332
  13. World Health Organization, Regional Office for the Western Pacific. WHO standard acupuncture point locations in the Western Pacific region. WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific. 2008:81-86.
  14. Bailey SD. The underlying mechanism of acupuncture on enhancing muscle strength: a review of literature. Int J Sports Exerc Med 2022;8:236. doi: 10.23937/2469-5718/1510236
  15. Wang BH, Lin CL, Li TM, Lin SD, Lin JG, Chou LW. Selection of acupoints for managing upper-extremity spasticity in chronic stroke patients. Clin Interv Aging 2014;9:147-156. doi: 10.2147/CIA.S53814
  16. Polatsch DB, Melone CP Jr, Beldner S, Incorvaia A. Ulnar nerve anatomy. Hand Clin 2007;23:283-289, v. doi: 10.1016/j.hcl.2007.05.001
  17. Fan Z, Dou B, Wang J, Wu Y, Du S, Li J, et al. Effects and mechanisms of acupuncture analgesia mediated by afferent nerves in acupoint microenvironments. Front Neurosci 2024;17:1239839. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1239839
  18. Caldwell JT, Sutterfield SL, Post HK, Lovoy GM, Banister HR, Hammer SM, et al. Vasoconstrictor responsiveness through alterations in relaxation time and metabolic rate during rhythmic handgrip contractions. Physiol Rep 2018;6:e13933. doi: 10.14814/phy2.13933
  19. Kitagawa Y. Spectral analysis of heart rate variability during trigger-point acupuncture of various muscles. Med Acupunct 2020;32:150-156. doi: 10.1089/acu.2020.1414