Effect of electroacupuncture on physical performance of young men and responses to exercise

ABSTRACT

Chinese Medicine uses acupuncture points K-3 (Taixi), Li-3 (taichong), S-36 (Zusanli), Ren-4 (Guanyuan)and Ren-6 (Qihai) to enhance the individual's general energy, improving capacity to physical efforts, and the body threshold to fadigue. We studied the influence of these specific points on physical performance capacity (PPC) and physiological responses to excercise (PRE). Material - We assigned 27 healthy men at random to three groups acupuncture (A), acupuncture sham (S) and control group (no acupuncture (N). Methods - Performance was determined through of a spiroergometric test was carried out at the beginning and at the end of five sucessive daily sessions, consisting of 20 minutes of electroacupuncture (EA) of the selected points. They performed a continuous incremental (25 watts/min) test until exhaunstion in bicycle ergometer (Cibex the Bike). Respiratory and metabolic variables were calculated every 20s during excercise by a computerized spiroergometric system (Vista CX). The heart was obtained by telemetry (Polar), The rate of perceived exertion (RPE) was measured by the Borg's revised scale. Results - The results before and after treatment were compared in these conditions rest (R); moderate exercise (M); at the anaerobic threshold (AT); intense exercise (I); maximal exercise (MX) and recovery (RC). The subjects from group A didn't increase the maximal performance capacity neither the PPC at AT. Respiratory, cardiovascular responses and movement economy in M, AT, I and MX didn't improve in these group. We detected a positive effect of EA only in RPE during M. There was no differences between tests in groups S an N. Conclusion - These results suggest that the EA in studied conditions isn't effective to increase PPC or improve PRE.