Bilateral effects of 6 weeks' unilateral acupuncture and electroacupuncture on ankle dorsiflexors muscle strength: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the effect of unilateral manual acupuncture at selected acupoints on ankle dorsiflexion strength of both limbs, and compare the effect with that of electroacupuncture at the same acupoints and sham points.

DESIGN

Randomized controlled trial.

SETTING

Rehabilitation laboratory of a university.

PARTICIPANTS

Young men (N=43) were randomly allocated into 4 groups: control; manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture on 2 acupoints (ST-36 and ST-39); and electroacupuncture on 2 nonacupoints. These points were located on the tibialis anterior muscle.

INTERVENTIONS

The participants in the experimental groups received 15 to 30 minutes of acupuncture or electroacupuncture on the right leg in each session, 3 sessions per week for 6 weeks.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The maximal strength in isometric ankle dorsiflexion of both legs was assessed before and after the experimental period.

RESULTS

Repeated-measures analysis of variance identified significant and similar strength gains (range, 35%-64% in the right leg and 32%-49% in the left leg; P<.01) in all acupuncture groups, but not in the control group (-2% to 2%, P>.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Unilateral manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture at the acupoints can improve muscle strength in both limbs, and electroacupuncture at the nonacupoints as used in this study can also induce similar strength gains.