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.

Academic Exchange at WFAS Turkey 2019 and Review of RCTs Conducted in China / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

The WFAS Annual Conference 2019 was held between November 14th and 17th at Kaya Palazzo Hotel, Antalya, Turkey. The WFAS executive committee was convened on the 14th. In the EC (Executive Committee) meeting, the JSAM proposed inclusion of the Declaration of Helsinki (DoH) in the WFAS Code of Ethics. Other issues discussed in the EC meeting included approval of the special consultative status by the the United Nations ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council) and preparation of the next WFAS symposium in the Netherlands in 2020. Individual presentations and other exhibitions in the symposium are also introduced in the present report. In addition, recent large-scale RCTs of acupuncture conducted in China were reviewed.

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.

Report on 8 th annual ICCMR Congress / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

The International Congress of Complementary Medicine Research (ICCMR) 2013was held in London, UK, on April 11-13, 2013. This conference was organized by the Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine and the University of Southampton School of Medicine. There were 450 participants at the conference, which offered 6 workshops, 8plenary sessions, 10 symposiums, 90 oral presentations, and 255 posters. These presentations were not only about acupuncture but also a wide range of traditional medicine, integrative medicine (IM), and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). It became clear that the spread and awareness of IM and CAM in the EU varied depending on the country.

Report on 2012 International Research Congress on Integrative Medicine and Health / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

The 2012 International Research Congress on Integrative Medicine and Health was held in the US in Portland, Oregon on May 15-18, 2012. This conference was organized by the International Society for Complementary Medicine Research (ISCMR) and the Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine (CAHCIM) . There were 1000 participants at the conference, which offered 7 workshops, 8plenary sessions, 30 symposiums, 65 oral presentations, and 433posters. Many researchers with grants from NIH or NCCAM gave presentations. These presentations were not only about acupuncture but also complementary and alternative medicine in general. My attendance to this conference was sponsored by the Department of International Affairs of the Japan Society of Acupuncture and Moxibustion.

Effectiveness of acupuncture in the control of lower back pain of sailors at the National Sports Festival of Japan / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

[Objective]To investigate the effectiveness of acupuncture in the control of lower back pain of sailors that participated in the National Sports Festival of Japan to assess whether or not acupuncture can be used as a pre and post race treatment.<BR>[Methods]The study was conducted at the National Sports Festival of Japan sailing games. The focus was on sailor's complaints of lower back pain. Acupuncture treatment for lower back pain was executed pre and/or post race, and the respective therapeutic effect was evaluated. Acupuncture was executed by several techniques and on several points of the lower back. <BR>The depth of insertion was the most critical criteria and must be shallow. The insertion depth of the study was approximately 5 mm. <BR>Acupuncture points were chosen by the therapist. The insertion point was selected based on characteristics such as tenderness and induration of tissue. As needed, the dermis was stimulated continuously utilizing the acupuncture needle. The effect of acupuncture treatment was evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).<BR>[Results]Lower back pain in sailors was alleviated by acupuncture and decreased by a VAS value (p < 0.01). The result was the same in pre and/or post race patients. Organic disease was confirmed in 19.0%of the patients. Both lumbar disc herniation and isthmic spondylolisthesis were diagnosed. There were no adverse events.<BR>[Conclusion]Acupuncture was an effective treatment method and as such can be used as a method of treatment of sailors at pre or post race. However, to attain the maximum efficacy, the depth of the needle insertion must be shallow.

Report on 6th ICCMR (International Congress on Complementary Medicine Research) 2011 in Chengdu / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

The 6th International Congress on Complementary Medicine Research (ICCMR) was held at the Sofitel Wanda Hotel in Chengdu, China on May 7-9, 2011. A pre-conference workshop was held on the 6th at Sichuan University. This conference was organized by the International Society for Complementary Medicine Research (ISCMR). There were 400 participants at the conference, which offered 4 workshops, 12 plenary sessions, 134 oral presentations, and 287 posters. Half of total presentations were from China and also many were from South Korea. The methodology of Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) and Systematic Review (SR) were discussed for building Evidence-Based Medicine for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) and many researches with RCT and SR were at the presentation. I attended this conference by reguest from the International Department of The Japan Society of Acupuncture and Moxibustion.

Effect of the Press Tack Needle on Recovery from Muscle Fatigue by Randomized Controlled Trial-sham controlled study- / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

[Purpose]The purpose of this paper is to examine whether or not the Press Tack Needle (PTN) treatment enhances the recovery process from muscle fatigue which assists in the therapeutic exercise rehabilitation process. By using the PTN, this paper investigates the recovery effect of the fatigued muscle. Randomized controlled trials were used to compare outcomes. <BR>[Method]Twenty-nine healthy male adults were chosen as subjects. However, crossover study was used to compare the PTN group and the sham group. After two sets of arm curl exercises with isotonic contraction at 10%weight of maximum voluntary contraction, the decrease percentage of exercise repetition was calculated. A PTN or sham was inserted at the posterior cervical region using the double masking method. After the intervention of the PTN or sham needle, the subjects were asked which intervention was inserted into them. A Kappa statistics value was used to evaluate the validity of the sham group and a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to determine the upper arm fatigue. <BR>[Result]The Kappa statistic value was 0.17. The decrease percentage of the exercise repetition of the PTN group was 35.4±20.1%, and of the sham group was 45.1±11.1%. The PTN group indicated a significantly smaller percentage than the sham group (p<0.01). Both groups showed no difference in Upper arm fatigue. <BR>[Conclusion]The PTN seems to help in recovery from muscle fatigue. It is thought that by inserting the PTN, somato-automomic reflex was induced to promote the increase of blood flow in to the muscle. Faster recovery of physical function of the patient can be possible as well as the improvement of QOL. In conclusion, this investigation showed that the PTN treatment method can be useful in assisting in therapeutic exercise rehabilitation.

Examination of Condition Adjustment following Acupuncture Treatment for Competitive Sailors at the National Sports Festival / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

[Purpose] This report examines the immediate effect of acupuncture treatment for subjective symptoms in competitive sailors.<BR>[Method] The investigation was performed in the conditioning room at the national sports festival. Acupuncture treatment was performed for lumbago (n=108), dorsal pain (n=72). Acupuncture treatment was performed only on the area where players complained of pain. The variety of chief complaints, number of chief com-plaints, and visual analog scale (VAS) score were used for the investigation. Significance of differences in VAS score was compared by t-test.<BR>[Result] There were numerous chief complaints involving lumbago, followed in orderby dorsal pain, and othercomplaints. Acupuncture treatment decreased the VAS score fbr lumbago (n=108) from 52.3±215mm to 21. 5±16.4mm. Dorsal pain (n=72) was also decreased from 48.0±18.7mm to 18.5±15.2mm. These values were both significantly different at p<0.01.<BR>[Discussion] Acupuncture treatment was effective for lumbago, and dorsal pain of competitive sailors. As a result, it was suggested that the acupuncture treatment is an effective condition adjustment methods.

The Effect of Press Tack Needle Treatment on Muscle Soreness after Triathlon Race-Placebo-controlled Study- / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

[Objective] To examine the effect of press tack needle (PTN) treatment on muscle soreness after triathlon race in a placebo (P) -controlled study.<BR>[Method] Subjects were 149 healthy triathletes randomly divided into 2 groups, PTN group and P group. PTN and P were placed on the L 3 to S 2 dermatome area (BL23, BL24, BL25, BL26 and BL32) only during the race. The visual analog scale (VAS) was used to measure muscle soreness at 6 points (Quads, Hamstrings, Calves, Tibialis anteriors, Glutes and lower back). Measurements were obtained before the race (PRE), after the race (POST1), and on the day after the race (POST2) to evaluate the effect of PTN treatment.<BR>[Results] Each VAS score was increased on POST1 compared to that on PRE (p<0.01) for both groups. With PTN treatment, VAS scores were decreased on POST2 compared to those on POST1 except for Glutes (p<0.01, p<0.05), and had recovered to the PRE-race condition. In the P group, VAS score of the hamstrings was decreased on POST2 compared to that on POST1, while VAS scores were significantly higher than those on PRE for Quad, Hamstrings, and Calves.<BR>[Conclusion] It is suggested that PTN stimulation during triathlon race suppresses delayed-onset muscle sore-ness.