Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research (대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지)

The Korean Society of Medical and Biological Engineering (대한의용생체공학회)
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The Differential Effects of Acupuncture on Postures of Healthy Subjects

정상인의 자세에 따른 자침 효과의 차이

  • Kim, Ji-Eun (Department of biomedical engineering, College of Electronics and information, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Park, Kyung-Mo (Department of biomedical engineering, College of Electronics and information, Kyung Hee University)
  • 김지은 (경희대학교 전자정보대학 동서의료공학과) ;
  • 박경모 (경희대학교 전자정보대학 동서의료공학과)
  • Published : 2007.02.28
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Abstract

Objective: The first aim of this study is to determine the effects of acupuncture on the autonomic nervous system (ANS) via Heart Rate (HR) and Pupil Size (PS), and to compare the effects of acupuncture on the subjects' ANS when they are in a sitting position with the effects when they are in a supine position. Methods: Ten healthy male subjects were randomized to receive either verum acupuncture stimulation in a sitting position (SitV), verum acupuncture stimulation in a supine position (SupV), sham acupuncture stimulation in a sitting position (SitS), and sham acupuncture stimulation in a supine position (SupS). Acupuncture stimulation was applied to Neguan point (PC6) on the forearm. The subject's electrocardiogram (ECG) and pupil size were recorded continuously from 5 min before stimulation to 12 min after stimulation. Results: Verum and sham acupuncture stimulation were found to have reduced heart rate (p<0.01) and to have increased pupil size (p<0.01) in all the subjects. But when the reduction in HR and the increment in PS after verum acupuncture stimulation (both sitting and supine position) were compared with those after sham acupuncture stimulation, it was found that the reduction in HR (74.48 and 73.47 bpm, p<0.063) and the increment of PS (7.32 and, 6.10 mm, p<0.001) after verum acupuncture stimulation were greater than those after sham acupuncture stimulation, and that the corresponding values were statistically significant. In addition, at the baseline, it was found that the subjects had a larger PS and a faster HR in a sitting position than when they did so in a supine position. And then the reduction and increment ratio in the subject's HR and PS when they underwent acupuncture stimulation in a sitting position was significantly different from the reduction and increment in their HR and PS when they underwent the procedure in a supine position-i.e., the reduction ratio in HR was greater when they underwent the procedure in a sitting position, and such reduction ratio was statistically significant (p<0.05). As for the increment in PS, it was greater when the subjects underwent the procedure in a supine position, and such increment was significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: Manual acupuncture stimulation on Neguan point (PC6) has more significant influence on the autonomic nervous system rather than sham acupuncture (tactile stimulation). And the position-induced different states of ANS have different influence on the acupuncture effect.

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