Shirley P C Ngai1, Alice Y M Jones. 1. Center for East-meets-West in Rehabilitation Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the change of skin impedance of acupoints along the Lung meridian in response to transcutaneous electrical nervous stimulation over an acupoint (Acu-TENS) over BL13 (Feishu). DESIGN: This was a double-blinded, randomized, controlled crossover study. SETTINGS/LOCATION: The study was conducted in a laboratory. SUBJECTS:Eighteen (18) healthy individuals comprised the study subjects. INTERVENTIONS: The intervention was a session of 45-minute Acu-TENS (application of TENS on BL13, Feishu) or placebo-TENS (similar to Acu-TENS but without electrical output). OUTCOME MEASURES: Skin impedance at 10 acupoints on the Lung meridian was recorded before and after the 45-minute intervention period. Heart rate variability during the intervention was analyzed from continuous heart rate monitoring. RESULTS:Skin impedance at all acupoints along the lung meridian decreased significantly after Acu-TENS, when compared to placebo-TENS (p<0.05). A significant reduction in sympathetic activity was also observed after Acu-TENS (p=0.012). CONCLUSIONS: Acu-TENS appears to modify skin impedance of acupoints along a related meridian and possibly modulates sympathovagal balance.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the change of skin impedance of acupoints along the Lung meridian in response to transcutaneous electrical nervous stimulation over an acupoint (Acu-TENS) over BL13 (Feishu). DESIGN: This was a double-blinded, randomized, controlled crossover study. SETTINGS/LOCATION: The study was conducted in a laboratory. SUBJECTS: Eighteen (18) healthy individuals comprised the study subjects. INTERVENTIONS: The intervention was a session of 45-minute Acu-TENS (application of TENS on BL13, Feishu) or placebo-TENS (similar to Acu-TENS but without electrical output). OUTCOME MEASURES: Skin impedance at 10 acupoints on the Lung meridian was recorded before and after the 45-minute intervention period. Heart rate variability during the intervention was analyzed from continuous heart rate monitoring. RESULTS: Skin impedance at all acupoints along the lung meridian decreased significantly after Acu-TENS, when compared to placebo-TENS (p<0.05). A significant reduction in sympathetic activity was also observed after Acu-TENS (p=0.012). CONCLUSIONS: Acu-TENS appears to modify skin impedance of acupoints along a related meridian and possibly modulates sympathovagal balance.
Authors: Vernon Bond; Bryan H Curry; Krishna Kumar; Sudhakar Pemminati; Vasavi R Gorantla; Kishan Kadur; Richard M Millis Journal: J Pharmacopuncture Date: 2016-09