ABSTRACT
We examined the effect of acupuncture treatment in the supine position, sitting position, and horseback riding posture on a horseback riding simulator at a standstill from the aspects of physical movement, psychological assessment, and autonomic nerve activity. Twenty-nine university students suffering from pain and stiffness during lateral hip flexion and extension movement of the Straight Leg Raising and movement of the neck and shoulders were randomly assigned to the supine position, sitting position, and horseback riding posture, and a tape-type press needle was attached at four acupuncture points on both lower limbs. Regarding the measuring method, we conducted M-Test movement assessment, two-dimensional mood standard (TDMS-ST), and heart rate variability analysis. There was no difference in the baseline among the three groups prior to the experiment and the improvement in the movement of the neck, SLR, and hip flexion (knee flexed position) for all three groups along with the comfort level of TDMS-ST significantly increased following treatment. Moreover, while we also observed a significant increase in HF (parasympathetic activity index) for all three groups following treatment, no change was observed in the LF/HF ratio (sympathetic activity index). These findings suggest that the stimulation from the press needle by the M-Test method achieved a relaxing effect regardless of the posture because the stimulation had a low degree of invasiveness, and it was also not associated with any pain.
ABSTRACT
Introducción. Altos niveles de condición física están relacionados con la salud cardiovascular de niños y adolescentes. Actualmente, en Argentina, no existe la aplicación sistemática de una batería para evaluar la condición física en el ámbito escolar. El propósito principal del estudio fue aplicar la batería ALPHA para determinar la condición física en una muestra de niños y adolescentes argentinos, y establecer la proporción de sujetos con nivel de capacidad aeróbica indicativo de riesgo cardiovascular futuro. Población y métodos. Una muestra de 1867 participantes (967 mujeres) de entre 6 y 19,5 años fueron evaluados con la batería ALPHA. Se midieron cuatro componentes de la condición física: 1) morfológico: estatura, peso corporal y perímetro de cintura; 2) muscular: test salto de longitud; 3) motor: test de velocidad/agilidad (carrera 4 x 10 m); 4) cardiorrespiratorio: test course navette de 20 m y cálculo del consumo máximo de oxígeno. Se calcularon los percentiles 5, 25, 50, 75 y 95 para los principales tests. Resultados. El índice de masa corporal medio fue 20,8 kg/m², y el 7,8% se clasificó en la categoría obesidad. Además, los participantes masculinos, en comparación con los femeninos, obtuvieron un mayor rendimiento en todos los tests de condición física (P < 0,001). En el 31,6% de los participantes se observó un nivel de capacidad aeróbica indicativo de riesgo cardiovascular. Conclusiones. La muestra de niños y adolescentes argentinos de sexo masculino presentó mayores niveles de condición física. Estas diferencias se incrementaron con la edad. Aproximadamente, 1 de cada 3 participantes tuvo un nivel de capacidad aeróbica indicativo de riesgo cardiovascular futuro.
Introduction. A high level of physical fitness is associated with cardiovascular health in children and adolescents. At present, there is no systematic implementation of a test battery to assess physical fitness at schools in Argentina. The main objective of this study was to implement the ALPHA test battery to determine the physical fitness of a sample made up of Argentine children and adolescents and to establish the proportion of subjects whose aerobic capacity is indicative of future cardiovascular risk. Population and methods. A sample of 1867 participants (967 girls) aged 6 to 19.5 years old assessed using the ALPHA test battery. Four components of physical fitness were measured: 1) morphological component: height, body weight, and waist circumference; 2) musculoskeletal component: standing long jump test; 3) motor component: speed/agility test (4x10 m shuttle run); 4) cardiorespiratory component: course-navette 20 m, shuttle run test and estimation of maximal oxygen consumption. The 5th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 95th percentiles were estimated for the main tests. Results. The mean body mass index was 20.8 kg/m2, and 7.8% of participants were classified as obese. In addition, male participants had a better performance in all physical fitness tests when compared to girls (p< 0.001). An aerobic capacity indicative of cardiovascular risk was observed in 31.6% of all participants. Conclusions. Argentine male children and adolescents included in the sample showed higher levels of physical fitness. Such differences increase with age. Approximately one every three participants had an aerobic capacity indicative of future cardiovascular risk.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Young Adult , Cardiovascular Diseases/epidemiology , Physical Fitness , Argentina , Physical Examination , Risk AssessmentABSTRACT
[Purpose]We report a case concerning 5 months of left elbow and knee joint pain thought to be caused by repetitive use at work. Symptoms were improved successfully (checked by M-test) by a single acupuncture treatment. <BR>[Case]We used acupuncture to treat a 50-year-old woman who visited our Acupuncture and Moxibustion Centerwith complaints of increasing elbow and knee joint pain in the left side. Since 4 months ago, her job involved frequent stair-climbing while carrying an 18-liter can of cooking oil. The soft tissues seemed to be damaged and caused pain due to the repeated lifting of heavy cans at work. Acu-points were decided by M-Test to check limitations of movement, which identified damaged regions and provided feedback for optimal treatment. According to the specific operations of the patient's work, we identified limited movements of left-elbow joint flexion-extension, left-shoulder joint extension, and left hip joint inner rotation and external gyration. These were regarded as target motions for the treatment. Her Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores before treatment were 90 mm in the left elbow and 80 mm in the left knee. Despite only a single round of acupuncture treatment, the respective values dropped to 18 mm and 15 mm.<BR>[Consideration and Conclusion]The limited movement identified by M-Test could expose the affected areas and help in treating the appropriate acu-points. Therefore, acupuncture using M-Test might improve painful motions of the body.
ABSTRACT
Lately, many people from children to elderly people are playing sports. Society is in need of safer and more comfortable sporting environment, not only for competitive sports, but also for recreational sports. The themes of acupuncture and moxibustion of the field of sports are treatments of sports injuries, keeping the physical condition of the athlete, preventing life-style related diseases and competition performance improvement of the athletes. At this symposium, we reported the present conditions of the study of sports acupuncture and moxibustion. It is summarized as follows:<BR> 1) Press tack needles relieve muscle fatigue that occurs during a long-term training camp,<BR> 2) Acupuncture inhibits the fall of the immune function resulting from high extreme exercise,<BR> 3) Electroacupuncture can relieve disused muscle atrophy of mice,<BR> 4) Press tack needles are effective in acute muscle fatigue and delayed onset muscle soreness, and<BR> 5) The M-Test is effective in estimating performance improvement and preventing sports injuries.