ABSTRACT
<p>The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of acupuncture to SP 3 on the quadriceps femoris during knee extension in patients with musculoskeletal diseases by applying the meridian concept.<br>The subjects included 10 healthy individuals with a mean age of 23.1 years, and all of whom provided informed consent for participation. During knee extension, each subject underwent three different types of acupuncture stimuli : 1) stimulation to SP 3, 2) stimulation to SP 4, and 3) no stimulation. For each stimulation,the subjects performed isometric contraction with 40% of maximum voluntary contraction with knee flexion to 60°. Surface electromyography (EMG) of the vastus medialis obliquus, vastus medialis longus, rectus femoris,and the four sites within the vastus lateralis was performed during knee extension before acupuncture stimulation ; immediately after starting stimulation ; and 5, 10, and 15 min after starting stimulation. Relative-integrated EMG data was recorded during and after acupuncture stimulation and compared to data that were recorded before acupuncture as reference values.<br>The results showed that after 15 min of acupuncture stimulation to SP 3, the relative-integrated EMG data on the vastus medialis obliquus was significantly increased compared to the data obtained without stimulation (p < 0.05).<br>Therefore, in conclusion, after 15 min of acupuncture stimulation to SP 3, the relative-integrated EMG data on the vastus medialis obliquus exhibited suppressed muscle function.</p>