The Influence of Acupuncture Stimulation on Dynamic Electromyographic Activity / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

The study investigated the influence of acupuncture on synergistic coordination by observing dynamic lumbar electromyographic activity. Left and right lumbar paraspinal (LP) EMG activities were recorded for 30 healthy subjects during a 45-degree trunk flexion-return movement, and the maximum RMS EMG activities (MREA) during this movement were compared between the two sides. Twenty subjects showed less than 20% LP MREA difference (symmetrical subjects-SS) between the left and right side, and 10 subjects showed more than a 20 % difference (asymmetrical subjects-AS). SS were reevaluated after lying on a treatment table in a prone position for 2 minutes and little change was observed in the degree of LP MREA asymmetry (P=0.164). AS were administered acupuncture stimulation on LP muscles. After the stimulation, a significant reduction in LP MREA asymmetry was observed (P=0.049), with a clear increase in symmetry of dynamic EMG activity for 9 of the 10 asymmetrical subjects. No specific pattern of response in LP MREA values was observed in the stimulated side following stimulation. On the non-stimulated side, there was a significant trend toward LP MREA decrease when the baseline value for that side was high (P=0.037), and an increase when it was low (0.0185). The study did not attempt to explore the exact mechanism of LP MIEA asymmetry reduction following acupuncture, however, it suggested that the response occurred as a result of interaction between the central and peripheral nerves which simultaneously caused systemic and local responses. This study indicated that acupuncture stimulation significantly decreased the asymmetrical dynamic EMG activity, suggesting that acupuncture treatment may be a useful method for decreasing functional muscular distortion and improving synergistic coordination.