Observation on Short-Term Therapeutic Effect of Electroacupuncture on Compensatory Hypertrophy Of Gastrocnemius Muscle: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: In Oriental women, having thick and short legs is a common posture problem, and having an imperfect lower leg shape is one of the factors that can cause feelings of inferiority. To address this issue, a retrospective cohort study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of electroacupuncture in improving compensatory hypertrophy of the gastrocnemius muscle while also reducing side effects. The goal of this study is to improve the clinical treatment plan for this type of problem. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted between December 2020 and March 2022 at the Changhai Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai, China. This study included 80 patients who were divided into two equal groups - the infrared (IR) group and the electroacupuncture (EA) group, based on the type of treatment they received during the research. The EA group received electroacupuncture and infrared treatment, while the IR group used an infrared therapeutic instrument to irradiate their lower legs on both sides. The main outcome measures were 3 calf circumference levels and the cross-sectional area of the gastrocnemius muscle in two-dimensional ultrasound. The secondary outcome measure was the incidence of adverse events. Results: According to the data, before the treatment there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in calf circumference and ultrasound gastrocnemius cross-sectional area. After the treatment, the value of each calf circumference level and ultrasound gastrocnemius cross-sectional area were significantly lower than the value collected before the treatment in the EA Group. However, there is no significant change in the data of the infrared therapeutic group before and after treatment. By comparing the data between the 2 groups we collected after the treatment, the value of each calf circumference level and ultrasound gastrocnemius cross-sectional area of the EA group is significantly lower than that of the IR group. Only 8 patients suffered from lower limb pain and other discomfort after treatment, and these symptoms did not cause dissatisfaction. Conclusion: Electroacupuncture is an effective treatment for compensatory hypertrophy of the gastrocnemius muscle.