Electrical stimulation of acupuncture points and blood pressure responses to postural changes: a pilot study.

Journal: Am J Crit Care. (20(3):e67-74)

Date: 2011 May

Abstract

Background

Application of transcutaneous electrical stimulation over acupuncture points (Acu-TENS) facilitates heart rate recovery after exercise and restores hemodynamic stability after open heart surgery. The role of Acu-TENS on cardiovascular parameters in response to postural changes has not been reported.

Objective

To investigate (1) the effect of Acu-TENS on blood pressure responses to -10º head-down postural change and (2) whether such effects were associated with modulation by the autonomic nervous system.

Method

Sixteen healthy volunteers, mean age 22.8 (SD, 3.1) years, were subjected to a -10º head-down tilt from the supine position on 3 separate occasions and received in random order the following 3 intervention protocols for 40 minutes before the postural change: Acu-TENS (over bilateral acupuncture points, PC6), sham-TENS (TENS applied to the skin over the patellae), and control (no electrical output from the TENS device applied at PC6). Mean arterial pressure, large artery elasticity index, cardiac output, and heart rate were recorded and compared at different stimulation protocols in the supine and -10º head-down tilt positions. Spectral analysis of heart rate variability was used to determine any modulation by the autonomic nervous system.

Results

Change in large artery elasticity index was observed only in the Acu-TENS group (P < .05) and mean arterial pressure appeared most stable during Acu-TENS. Autonomic nervous system modulation was not apparent with spectral analysis, irrespective of intervention. Sympathetic activity predominated in all positions.

Conclusion Acu-TENS seems to reduce blood pressure changes with -10º head-down tilt with concomitant changes in arterial vessel tone.

Wrist-ankle acupuncture as perineal pain relief after mediolateral episiotomy: a pilot study.

Institute: SourceDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, San Gerardo Hospital , Monza, Italy .

Author: Marra C, Pozzi I, Ceppi L, Sicuri M, Veneziano F, Regalia AL.

Journal: J Altern Complement Med.

Date: 2011 Mar

Abstract Objectives: The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in relieving perineal pain after mediolateral episiotomy during childbirth.

Design and subjects: Women with mediolateral episiotomy during delivery were enrolled in this study and were assigned to be treated or not with acupuncture. Outcomes measures: Perineal pain relieving effect of acupuncture was evaluated considering oral analgesics request during post-partum period and was the main outcome of this trial.

Results: A total of 42 women were enrolled in this trial. Twenty-one (21) women were treated with "wrist-ankle" acupuncture, inserting one needle in their right ankle. A second group of 21 women was not treated with acupuncture. Women in the acupuncture group were significantly less likely to experience pain; only 8 of them (38.1%) asked for analgesics. All women in the second group assumed oral analgesics because of perineal pain (p < 0.01).

Conclusions: Wrist-ankle acupuncture during the postpartum period is effective for perineal pain relief after mediolateral episiotomy.

Acupuncture for Chronic Nonbacterial Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome: A Systematic Review.

Journal: J Androl. Date: 2011 Mar 24. Author: Posadzki P, Zhang J, Lee MS, Ernst E. Purpose: The objective of this systematic review was to assess the effectiveness of acupuncture as a treatment option for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Material and Methods: Eight databases were searched from their inception to October 2010. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) were considered, if they tested acupuncture against any control intervention or no therapy in human with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. The selection of studies, data extraction, and validation were performed independently by two reviewers. The methodological quality of all included RCTs was assessed using Jadad scale. Studies of stimulation of acupoints other than by needles were excluded. Results: Nine RCTs met the inclusion criteria. They all suggested that acupuncture is effective as compared to a range of control interventions. Their methodological quality was variable, most were associated with major flaws. Only one RCT had a Jadad score of more than 3. Conclusions: The evidence that acupuncture is effective for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome is encouraging, but due to several caveats, not conclusive. Therefore, more rigorous studies seem warranted.

Neck pain treatment with acupuncture: does the number of needles matter?

Journal: Clin J Pain.

Date: 2010 Nov-Dec;26(9):807-12.

Authors: Ceccherelli F, Gioioso L, Casale R, Gagliardi G, Ori C.

Location: Department of Pharmacology and Anesthesiology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Acupuncture has been successfully used in myofascial pain syndromes. However, the number of needles used, that is, the dose of acupuncture stimulation, to obtain the best antinociceptive efficacy is still a matter of debate. The question was addressed comparing the clinical efficacy of two different therapeutic schemes, characterized by a different number of needles used on 36 patients between 29-60 years of age with by a painful cervical myofascial syndrome.

METHODS: Patients were divided into two groups; the first group of 18 patients were treated with 5 needles and the second group of 18 patients were treated with 11 needles, the time of needle stimulation was the same in both groups: 100 seconds. Each group underwent six cycles of somatic acupuncture. Pain intensity was evaluated before, immediately after and 1 and 3 months after the treatment by means of both the Mc Gill Pain Questionnaire and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). In both groups, the needles were fixed superficially excluding the two most painful trigger points where they were deeply inserted.

RESULTS: Both groups, independently from the number of needles used, obtained a good therapeutic effect without clinically relevant differences.

CONCLUSIONS: For this pathology, the number of needles, 5 or 11, seems not to be an important variable in determining the therapeutic effect when the time of stimulation is the same in the two groups

The effect of acupuncture on postmenopausal symptoms and reproductive hormones: a sham controlled clinical trial.

Author: Sunay D, Ozdiken M, Arslan H, Seven A, Aral Y.

Journal: Acupuncture Med.

Date: 2011 Mar

Background:
Acupuncture is commonly used to treat menopausal symptoms and other gynaecological conditions. In this study, the authors aimed to investigate whether acupuncture has an effect on menopausal symptoms and to explore whether this effect is related to changes in hormone levels. Materials and methods A total of 53 postmenopausal women were alternately assigned into two treatment groups: acupuncture (n=27) and sham acupuncture (n=26). Menopausal symptoms were assessed using the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS). The serum oestradiol, follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH) levels were measured at baseline and again after the first and last sessions. The Student t test was used for normally distributed data and the Wilcoxon signed rank test for not normally distributed data. The group differences in MRS scores were assessed using non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test.

RESULTS:
After treatment, total MRS, and the somatic and psychological subscale scores were significantly lower in the acupuncture group than the sham group (all p=0.001). The severity of hot flushes was found to be significantly decreased after treatment in acupuncture group (p=0.001). In the acupuncture group LH levels were lower and oestradiol levels were significantly higher than sham group (p=0.046 and p=0.045, respectively) after treatment, but there was no difference in FSH levels.

CONCLUSION: Acupuncture was effective in reducing menopausal complaints when compared to sham acupuncture and can be considered as an alternative therapy in the treatment of menopausal symptoms.

PMID: 21383392

Efficacy of acupuncture versus night splinting for carpal tunnel syndrome: a randomized clinical trial.

Institute: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand.

Author: Kumnerddee W, Kaewtong A.

Date: 2010 December

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of acupuncture with night splinting for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

MATERIAL AND METHOD: Sixty one mild-to-moderate degree CTS patients, aged 27-67 were randomly assigned to acupuncture (Acu) and night splinting (NS) groups. The Acu group received 10 sessions of electro-acupuncture twice a week. The NS group received prefabricated volar neutral wrist splint during the night for 5 weeks. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and the end of treatment protocol by Boston Carpal Tunnel Scale comprising symptom severity scale (SSS) and functional status scale (FSS). Pain was measured by 100 mm visual analog scale (VAS).

RESULTS: VAS decreased more in Acu than in the NS group (p = 0.028) whereas improvements in SSS and FSS were not significant between both groups.

CONCLUSION: Electro-acupuncture was as effective as night splinting in respect of overall symptoms and functions in mild-to-moderate degree CTS. However, pain was reduced more by electro-acupuncture than night splinting.

Auricular acupuncture for insomnia:a randomized controlled trial

Institute: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, General Hospital of Peoples Liberation Army, Beijing

Date: 2010 Dec;31(12):1400-1402

Author: Jiang B, Ma ZH, Zuo F.

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of auricular acupuncture therapy (AAT) and standardized acupoints on sleep parameters among people with insomnia.

METHODS: A single-blind, randomized pilot study where the treatment group AAT on active points and the control group received AAT on sham points during a 4-week treatment period. Participants were recruited from the Acupuncture Outpatient Clinics in the General Hospital of People's Liberation Army. In all, 125 patients were included in the study, with 63 in treatment group and 62 in control group. Sleep parameters were obtained by using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

RESULTS: (1) Significant improvement in the PSQI total score and seven components score including sleep quality, time on falling asleep, sleeping time, efficiency and disorder of sleep, hypnotic and daytime functional disorder after treatment in both treatment group and control group (P <>