Effects of acupuncture on sports activities of athletes / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

[Objective]To investigate the effects of acupuncture on sports activities of athletes[Methods]A total of 1,804 athletes were targeted. The method used was a collective survey. Questionnaires were administered after obtaining consent from the participants; online questionnaires were also provided. The questionnaire evaluated profile (sex, age); sensation immediately after acupuncture treatment, duration of stimulus sensation, stimulus intensity, stimulus sensation, and therapeutic effect; timing of acupuncture treatment; and questions related to acupuncture as to whether the acupuncture caused any adverse effects on play (movement) or showed any positive effects.[Results]In total, 1,525 (84.5%) valid responses were obtained. The survey analyzed 841 subjects (55.1%) who underwent acupuncture. The most common response after acupuncture treatment was that the subjects felt lighter and were able to move more easily; 43.9% of subjects gave this response. In addition, 10.6% of respondents said that they continued to feel pain similar to the sensation during acupuncture treatment and 7.7% said they felt weak. The most common response at 59.8% was that the sensation felt during acupuncture disappeared quickly after treatment was ended, 58.6% of subjects said that the sensation felt after acupuncture was optimal, and 48.3% responded that the sensation from treatment remained and a positive effect was observed. The most common timing for receiving acupuncture for 21.8% of subjects was after practice or a match: [Discussion and Conclusion]Acupuncture for athletes should be performed according to the guidelines, taking into account the competition schedule and type of competition and the appropriate amount of acupuncture stimulation, thereby preventing problems during competition.

Survey on Adverse Events of Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Athletes in Japan / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

[Objective] The purpose of this cross-sectional questionnaire-based study is to investigate the challenges of adverse events during treatment by acupuncture and moxibustion to an athlete. [Methods] In total, 1,804 subjects, including athletes who participated in marathons and university athletes were enrolled in this study. The survey was conducted by distributing the questionnaire or via online questionnaire to the athletes who fit the criteria for the study. The questionnaires were collected after consent was received from the participants; online questionnaires were also collected. The questionnaire was examined for age, sex, and type of competition, purpose of the acupuncture treatment and the actual effects, and treated area, content of adverse event, number of times the subjects received acupuncture, and informed consent, and free description of adverse events.[Results] In total, 1,525 (84.5%) valid responses to the questionnaires were received. The survey analyzed 841 subjects (55.1%) who experienced acupuncture and moxibustion. The following responses about adverse events of acupuncture were obtained: "pain at time of needle insertion"; 17.0%, "subcutaneous-bleeding"; 10.1% and "pain and feeling of heaviness due to the needle": 10.0%, among others. For moxibustion, responses included "burns"; 5.9% and "malaise"; 5.8%, among others. In the free description, there were 17 descriptions of discomfort due to excessive stimulation and difficulty in movement during exercise. Of the questions regarding whether or not they received informed consent, 215 were received orally (25.6%), 34 were received in written form (4.0%), 99 were received both orally and in written form (11.8%).[Discussion and Conclusion] Acupuncture for athletes causes a certain rate of adverse events. It was suggested that guidelines for athletes to receive acupuncture safely and training and education for practitioners are important.

Effects of acupuncture on fatigue and oxidative stress in distance runners:A double-blind trial / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

[Objective]To investigate whether acupuncture is effective to prevent fatigue and oxidative stress in distance runners.<BR>[Methods]A total of 17 runners were recruited and randomized to receive acupuncture (Press Tack Needle) or placebo treatment. Subjects received treatment from licensed acupuncturists before a 10 km race. The primary outcome measures were oxidative stress, as determined by electron spin resonance (ESR), and fatigue, as assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Secondary outcome measures were GOT, LDH, and CPK.<BR>[Results]Fatigue was significantly increased in both groups after the race. There was no difference in both groups.<BR>Hydroxyl radical scavenging activity tended to increase in both groups after the race.<BR>[Conclusion]The study found no useful acupuncture aspects of oxidative stress and fatigue.

Molecular Mechanisms of Inhibiting the Muscle Atrophy by Electroacupuncture / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

 Electroacupuncture (EA) is an acupuncture technique that is stimulated by acupuncture needles with low-frequency microcurrent. The aim of this study is to elucidate the effect of EA and it's molecular mechanism on muscle atrophy by using an animal model: hindlimb-suspended (HS) mice in the disuse muscle atrophy model. To compare the effects of EA in HS mice and HS mice treated with EA (EA/HS), soleus muscle mass and soleus myofiber diameter were measured. We then used real-time quantitative RT-PCR to analyze the expression of myostatin and ubiquitin ligase genes in atrophic muscles of HS mice and in muscles of EA/HS mice. We found that EA/HS mice maintained a soleus muscle mass that was not significantly different from that of wild mice (WT), whereas HS mice had significantly reduced muscle mass. Also, the diameters of myofibers in EA/HS mice, which were not significantly different from wild values, were significantly larger than those in HS mice. Repeated EA treatment suppressed gene expression of myostatin and ubiquitin ligase genes in skeletal muscle of EA/HS mice but induced expression of these genes in HS mice. These findings suggest the molecular mechanism by EA: suppression of myostatin and ubiquitin ligase gene may be a key reaction of inhibiting the disuse muscle atrophy.

Molecular Mechanisms of Inhibiting the Muscle Atrophy by Electroacupuncture / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

 Electroacupuncture (EA) is an acupuncture technique that is stimulated by acupuncture needles with low-frequency microcurrent. The aim of this study is to elucidate the effect of EA and it's molecular mechanism on muscle atrophy by using an animal model: hindlimb-suspended (HS) mice in the disuse muscle atrophy model. To compare the effects of EA in HS mice and HS mice treated with EA (EA/HS), soleus muscle mass and soleus myofiber diameter were measured. We then used real-time quantitative RT-PCR to analyze the expression of myostatin and ubiquitin ligase genes in atrophic muscles of HS mice and in muscles of EA/HS mice. We found that EA/HS mice maintained a soleus muscle mass that was not significantly different from that of wild mice (WT), whereas HS mice had significantly reduced muscle mass. Also, the diameters of myofibers in EA/HS mice, which were not significantly different from wild values, were significantly larger than those in HS mice. Repeated EA treatment suppressed gene expression of myostatin and ubiquitin ligase genes in skeletal muscle of EA/HS mice but induced expression of these genes in HS mice. These findings suggest the molecular mechanism by EA: suppression of myostatin and ubiquitin ligase gene may be a key reaction of inhibiting the disuse muscle atrophy.

Electroacupuncture accelerates recovery of muscle atrophy induced by hindlimb suspension in mouse skeletal muscle / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

[Objective]The influence of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation on physical inactivity is not clear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of EA on the recovery of mouse soleus muscle atrophy induced by hindlimb suspension (HS).<BR>[Methods]We used 8-week-old male ICR mice (n = 20). The mice were divided into 4 groups:the No treatment group (NT, n = 5), HS group (HS, n = 5), Control group (CT, n = 5), and Reloading-with-EA-stimulation group (EA, n = 5). HS mice were suspended for up to 14 days. CT and EA mice were reloaded for an additional 14 days after the HS for 14 days. The HS method used a modified version of an apparatus used in a previous study. EA mice received EA every other day immediately after reloading and were stimulated in the triceps surae muscle at 10 Hz for 30 min with a stainless steel needle. The weight, muscle fiber area size and number of macrophages in the soleus muscle were analyzed.<BR>[Results]The number of skeletal muscle macrophages was increased significantly in EA mice compared with that in CT mice (P < 0.01). The soleus muscle weight and muscle fiber cross-sectional area were decreased in HS mice compared with NT mice (P < 0.01). However, the muscle weight of EA and CT mice increased significantly compared with that of HS mice (P < 0.01). In addition, the muscle weight of EA mice was significantly higher than that of CT mice (P < 0.01), without a significant difference in muscle fiber cross-sectional area between CT and EA mice. <BR>[Conclusion]These results indicate that EA was effective in facilitating the recovery of skeletal muscle atrophy in mice. In addition, resolution of the skeletal muscle atrophy suggested the satellite cell activation by macrophages, because macrophages invaded the skeletal muscle after EA stimulation.

The effect of the electroacupuncture therapy for low back pain of collegiate athletes / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

[Objective]The purpose of this study is to evaluate an effect of electroacupuncture therapy on low back pain of collegiate athletes. <BR>[Methods]Subjects were 28 collegiate athletes with low back pain who gave informed consent. They consulted a medical doctor beforehand. The electroacupuncture therapy was performed as acupuncture. The evaluation items were as follows:Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) which expresses the state of the pain (Pain-VAS), VAS which shows a training state (Training-VAS), five phases of evaluations to show a training state, pain at the time of the trunk movements, Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RDQ), and Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score. The correlation of each item was estimated.<BR>[Results]The chief complaint of 27 people was low back pain, and one person had pain of the low back and the lower extremities. In the diagnosis, 16 people had non-specific low back pain, 5people had lumbar vertebrae discopathy, and 3had a lumber vertebrae herniated disk. As a result of acupuncture, the training-VAS and five phases of evaluations to show the training state and JOA score were significantly improved. However, as for the pain-VAS and pain at the time of trunk movements and RDQ, a significant difference was not accepted. <BR>[Conclusion]Training-VAS is useful for measuring the outcome of an athlete with low back pain. It is important that athletes with low back pain evaluate their training.

Activity of the Athletic Trainer in a collegiate boxing club-investigation on acupuncture for boxers- / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

[Objective] To report the activity by the athletic trainer in a collegiate boxing club, focusing on acupuncture for medical treatment.<BR>[Methods] The athletic trainer was Japan a Japan Sports Association certifiedathletic trainer who was a practitioner of acupuncture and moxibustion. Subjects were twenty-seven collegiate boxers who participated for one year from April, 2004 to March, 2005.<BR>[Results] The activity by the athletic trainer was performed for thirty two days. Medical treatment was performed up to 2.2 times a day. Seventy-one people were treated by the athletic trainer. Medical treatments were acupuncture 28 (39.4%), massage 24 (33.8%), taping 4 (5.6%), and partner stretch 3 (4.2%). Thirteen people (48.1%) had acupuncture. In acupuncture, fifteen people (50%) had a chief complaint in the hand.<BR>[Discussion] Acupuncture was requested by the boxers. The continuation of the activity by the athletic trainer was required for boxing.