ABSTRACT
Introduction Redox state of glutathione as an oxidative stress marker changes by exercise. Therefore, oxidative stress marker has been used to evaluate the physical condition of athletes. In athletics it is important to prevent fatigue for peak performance. Acupuncture has been used for fatigue prevention of athletes. However, there is little scientific evidence to prove the effect. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on the change in redox state of glutathione as an oxidative stress marker in the blood by ergometer exercise. Methods In this crossover study, the EA and control (CONT) groups each included 12 healthy male volunteers. EA at 2 Hz and optimum intensity was performed on each subject at both the SP10 (Xuehai) and SP11 (Jimen) locations for 10 min before exercise. Respiratory metabolism was recorded during bicycle ergometer exercise by ramp rate until exhaustion. Blood samples were collected from the fingertip of each subject before and after exercise. Oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and total glutathione (tGSH) concentrations in the blood were biochemically determined as a marker of oxidative stress. The degree of fatigue before and after exercise was evaluated by the visual analogue scale (VAS). Results The ventilatory threshold (VT) and the respiratory compensation point (RC), parameters of respiratory metabolism during exercise, did not differ significantly between the EA and CONT groups. Between both groups, the significant difference was not recognized to the amount of change in tGSH, GSSG, GSH, GSSG/tGSH by exercise. The GSSG/tGSH values after exercise was significantly lower than that before exercise in the EA group (p<0.05). In contrast, this level did not change significantly in the CONT group. The VAS values increased significantly after exercise in both groups (p<0.05); however, the VAS value in EA group showed a low tendency in comparison with that in CONT group. Discussion VT and RC did not differ between the two groups, indicating that the level of exercise was nearly the same for both groups. In comparison of both groups, there was no significant difference on the amount of change of each glutathione parameters by exercise. On the other hand, The GSSG/tGSH and the VAS values after exercise were lower than those values before exercise in the EA group. Therefore, it might be possible that the EA affects the change of the glutathione due to the exercise. Our results might suggest that EA-mediated change of GSH bear some related to suppression of fatigue.
ABSTRACT
<B>Introduction</B><BR> Redox state of glutathione as an oxidative stress marker changes by exercise. Therefore, oxidative stress marker has been used to evaluate the physical condition of athletes. In athletics it is important to prevent fatigue for peak performance. Acupuncture has been used for fatigue prevention of athletes. However, there is little scientific evidence to prove the effect. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on the change in redox state of glutathione as an oxidative stress marker in the blood by ergometer exercise.<BR><B>Methods</B><BR> In this crossover study, the EA and control (CONT) groups each included 12 healthy male volunteers. EA at 2 Hz and optimum intensity was performed on each subject at both the SP10 (Xuehai) and SP11 (Jimen) locations for 10 min before exercise. Respiratory metabolism was recorded during bicycle ergometer exercise by ramp rate until exhaustion. Blood samples were collected from the fingertip of each subject before and after exercise. Oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and total glutathione (tGSH) concentrations in the blood were biochemically determined as a marker of oxidative stress. The degree of fatigue before and after exercise was evaluated by the visual analogue scale (VAS).<BR><B>Results</B><BR> The ventilatory threshold (VT) and the respiratory compensation point (RC), parameters of respiratory metabolism during exercise, did not differ significantly between the EA and CONT groups. Between both groups, the significant difference was not recognized to the amount of change in tGSH, GSSG, GSH, GSSG/tGSH by exercise. The GSSG/tGSH values after exercise was significantly lower than that before exercise in the EA group (p<0.05). In contrast, this level did not change significantly in the CONT group. The VAS values increased significantly after exercise in both groups (p<0.05); however, the VAS value in EA group showed a low tendency in comparison with that in CONT group.<BR><B>Discussion</B><BR> VT and RC did not differ between the two groups, indicating that the level of exercise was nearly the same for both groups. In comparison of both groups, there was no significant difference on the amount of change of each glutathione parameters by exercise. On the other hand, The GSSG/tGSH and the VAS values after exercise were lower than those values before exercise in the EA group. Therefore, it might be possible that the EA affects the change of the glutathione due to the exercise. Our results might suggest that EA-mediated change of GSH bear some related to suppression of fatigue.
ABSTRACT
[Objective]Daily repetitive exercise is known to be necessary for players in sports. In this study, to further explore the potential functions of acupuncture, we studied whether electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation has efficacy for repetitive exercise-induced oxidative stress.<BR>[Methods]Six healthy male volunteers participated in both the non-treatment control group and the EA group in a crossover design. EA stimulation was applied to both the medial vastus muscles at 2 Hz and optimum intensity for each subject during ten min just before each exercise period. The subject performed ergometer exercise for 20 min with 75%of maximal oxygen uptake each day. This exercise period was performed once a day for three consecutive days. Blood lactate level (BLL) and plasma lipid peroxide (LP) concentration were measured as the markers for metabolism and oxidative stress, respectively. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the individual level of fatigue due to exercise.<BR>[Results]During and just after the exercise period, each value of BLL in the EA group was lower than the same points in the control group. Whereas LP concentrations before the exercise period on the first day in the control group was higher than the values in the same points on the second and third days. LP concentrations before the exercise period in the EA group were almost the same levels for three days. Furthermore, after the exercise period for the three consecutive days, LP concentrations and VAS in the EA group were lower than each value of the same points in the control group, and especially, the alteration of VAS showed a significant difference. <BR>[Conclusion]The increased tendency of LP concentrations before the exercise period for three days in the control group indicated that repetitive exercise induced the accumulation of excess lipid peroxide. It might be suggested that EA stimulation suppressed subjective fatigue by an enhanced energy metabolic rate and decreased production of lipid peroxide. Hence the evidence strongly supported that EA stimulation might be useful for sports conditioning.
ABSTRACT
<B>Aim</B><BR> The study aimed to develop an appropriate <I>in vivo</I> rat model of muscle strain to investigate whether electroacupuncture is useful for improving muscle strain.<BR><B>Methods</B><BR> An <I>in vivo</I> muscle strain model was developed with Wistar rats by the eccentric contraction (EC) evoked by pulling their hind limb with a stainless-steel wire that was connected to a weight; the EC was given under anesthesia during tetanic contraction in their gastrocnemius evoking by electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve. Development of muscle strain was evaluated by comparing the muscle tension induced by the twitch of the gastrocnemius, pain thresholds measured using the Randall-Selitto test, and the serum creatine kinase (CK) activity between the following three experimental groups : EC×1 group, EC was temporarily evoked to their hind limb only once (n=10); EC×5 group, EC was temporarily evoked to their hind limb five times consecutively (n=6); and control group, EC was not evoked to their hind limb (n=6). After confirming the absence of a significant difference in the parameters between the two EC conditions, the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) was evaluated using the model of one-time EC (EA group n=10). At 12 hours after EC, EA was carried out at a frequency of 50 Hz and an intensity of 0.5 mA for 15 min; this stimulation was given for six consecutive days.<BR><B>Results</B><BR> Muscle tension, pain thresholds, and the CK activity showed no remarkable changes in the control group during the experimental period. A significant decrease in the muscle tension was observed after EC in the EC×1 and EC×5 groups, and the decrease sustained until 48 and 24 hours after EC, respectively. Pain thresholds in the EC×1 and EC×5 groups were significantly lower than those in the control group at each of the time periods studied after EC, and were sustained at least until 120 hours after EC. The CK activity increased in the EC×1 and the EC×5 groups at 30 minutes after EC. Recovery in muscle tension after EC was faster in the EA group than in the EC×1 group. Pain thresholds also showed faster recovery in the EA group than in the EC×1 group, indicating statistically significant differences at 72, 96, and 120 hours after EC.<BR><B>Discussion</B><BR> The <I>in vivo</I> rat model, which was developed in the present study, was considered to be an appropriate model of muscle strain because it clearly showed a decrease in the muscle tension and pain thresholds, and an elevation in the CK activity. EA was considered to be capable of accelerating the recovery of muscle strain as it was found to improve muscle tension and pain thresholds in the model.
ABSTRACT
Objective:It is very important that oxidative stress is estimated for us to understand a player's condition in the field of sports. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether electroacupuncture has an effect on exercise-induced oxidative stress.<BR>Methods:Ten healthy male volunteers participated in both the electroacupuncture (EA) group and the control group in a crossover design. EA at a frequency of 2 Hz and optimum intensity was performed in the subjects for 10 minutes in both the medial vastus muscles. During ergometer exercise by ramp load, respiratory metabolism including the RC point was recorded as the indication of energy metabolism. Blood was collected from the fingertips of the subjects, and then their levels of oxidative stress (d-ROMs test) and antioxidative (BAP test) were determined by using a Free Radical Analytical System (FRAS4, Wismell Instruments). Six measurements were taken;at rest, immediately after EA and following exercise, and at 20, 40, and 60 minutes following exercise.<BR>Results:The RC point was significantly prolonged in the EA group compared with the control group. The level of oxidative stress (d-ROMs test) in the control group increased significantly at 20 minutes following exercise compared with rest (before exercise) and this increase was sustained until 60 minutes after exercise. In contrast, it did not significantly change in the EA group. Whereas the antioxidative level (BAP test) in the EA group significantly increased immediately following exercise compared with rest (before exercise), it did not increase in the control group.<BR>Conclusion:These results suggest that electroacupuncture might enhance the antioxidative level (BAP test) and inhibit the level of oxidative stress (d-ROMs test) by effecting a change in respiratory metabolism. We propose that electroacupuncture might be useful for sports conditioning.