Traditional Chinese acupressure massage ameliorates systemic inflammatory responses and joint mobility limitation after acute repeated jumping exercise

Different acupuncture and moxibustion therapies for mild cognitive impairment: a network meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effectiveness of different acupuncture and moxibustion therapies in improving cognitive function in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to determine the optimal approach. This study aims to provide insights into the treatment of MCI patients for future randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and clinical decision-making.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RCT studies were retrieved from databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, WANFANG, VIP, and SinoMed. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to assess the risk of bias for eligible trials. Bayesian network meta-analysis was conducted using R4.2.3 software.

RESULTS

A total of 46 RCTs with 3641 participants were included. The network meta-analysis showed that acupoint pressing + cognitive training + auricular point sticking, massage + western medicine treatment, and electroacupuncture + western medicine treatment ranked first, second, and third in improving MMSE score, respectively. Acupoint pressing + cognitive training, cognitive training + scalp acupuncture, and cognitive training + moxibustion ranked first, second, and third in improving MoCA score, respectively.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that acupoint pressing alone or acupoint pressing + auricular point sticking may improve cognitive function in MCI patients and possibly be the most effective acupuncture interventions for the treatment of MCI.

Acupressure for depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Depression is a common mental disorder caused by the interaction of social, psychological, and biological factors. Treatments include psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, and other therapies, but they have limitations. Particularly, the COVID-19 pandemic may have a negative impact on depressed people. Thus, developing more potential treatments for depression has currently been an urgent challenge. A growing number of studies have found that acupressure is effective in relieving the symptoms of depression. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupressure in people with depression. English (PubMed, CENTRAL, EMBASE, APA PsycINFO, and CINAHL) and Chinese databases (CBM, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP), ClinicalTrials.gov and Chinese Clinical Trial Registry were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on patients diagnosed with depression from study inception until March 31, 2023. Studies that compared acupressure with sham acupressure, conventional treatments (i.e., medication, usual care, etc.), and acupressure as an adjunct to conventional treatment for depression were included. The primary outcome was depression level measured using the Hamilton Depression Scale, Self-Rating Depression Scale, or Geriatric Depression Scale. A total of 19 RCTs involving 1686 participants were included. The pooled results showed that acupressure exhibited a significant beneficial effect on reducing the severity of depression compared with sham acupressure and served as an adjunct to conventional treatment, although the evidence level was moderate. Thus, acupressure may be a potential treatment for depression.

Effect of ST36 electroacupuncture on the switch of skeletal muscle fibres in mice with sciatic nerve dissociation

Skeletal muscle is striated muscle that moves autonomously and is innervated by peripheral nerves. Peripheral nerve injury is very common in clinical treatment. However, the commonly used treatment methods often focus on the regeneration of the injured nerve but overlook the pathological changes in the injured skeletal muscle. Acupuncture, as the main treatment for denervated skeletal muscle atrophy, is used extensively in clinical practice. In the present study, a mouse model of lower limb sciatic nerve detachment was constructed and treated with electroacupuncture Stomach 36 to observe the atrophy of lower limb skeletal muscle and changes in skeletal muscle fibre types before and after electroacupuncture Stomach 36 treatment. Mice with skeletal muscle denervation showed a decrease in the proportion of IIa muscle fibres and an increase in the proportion of IIb muscle fibres, after electroacupuncture Stomach 36. The changes were reversed by specific activators of p38 MAPK, which increased IIa myofibre ratio. The results suggest that electroacupuncture Stomach 36 can reverse the change of muscle fibre type from IIb to IIa after denervation of skeletal muscle by inhibiting p38 MAPK. The results provide an important theoretical basis for the treatment of clinical peripheral nerve injury diseases with electroacupuncture, in addition to novel insights that could facilitate the study of pathological changes of denervated skeletal muscle.

The Influence of a Single Instrument-Assisted Manual Therapy (IAMT) for the Lower Back on the Structural and Functional Properties of the Dorsal Myofascial Chain in Female Soccer Players: A Randomised, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Background: Instrument-assisted manual therapy (IAMT) is indicated to improve flexibility, reduce pain, and induce hyperaemia locally and along myofascial chains. The underlying effects are largely unclear. This randomised, placebo-controlled pilot study aimed to gain first insights into these effects, primarily on the structural level, through ultrasonography. Methods: 67 healthy female soccer players aged 20.9 (±3.9) years were examined after right lumbar intervention (IAMT: intervention group (IG), heat application: comparison group (CG), pressure-less placebo: placebo group (PG)). Ultrasonography (absolute movement and shear motion), flexibility tests (passive straight leg raise test (PSLR), lumbar and thoracic double inclinometry), and superficial skin temperature were recorded before (t0), immediately (t1) and 45 min after the intervention (t2). Results: IAMT decreased the absolute mobility of the superficial lamina and its shear motion to the superficial fascia compared with the PG (t1; p < 0.05). PSLR improved in the IG compared with the CG (t2) and PG (t1, t2; p < 0.05). The temperature increased in the IG and CG compared with the PG (t1, t2) and in the CG compared with the IG (t1; p < 0.05). Conclusion: IAMT of the lumbar back briefly reduces absolute mobility of the superficial lamina and its shear motion to the superficial fascia, improves flexibility, and increases the temperature.

Acupressure and Cognitive Training Can Improve Cognitive Functions of Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Given the limited effectiveness of pharmacological treatments in mitigating cognitive decline in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), there is a pressing need for developing effective non-pharmacological intervention programs to counteract MCI-related cognitive decline. Acupressure and cognitive training are safe and cost-effective; however, evidence of the effect of acupressure or the combined effect of acupressure and cognitive training on cognitive functions of older adults with MCI is limited.

Objective: To evaluate both the individual and combined effects of acupressure and cognitive training on cognitive functions of older adults with MCI.

Methods: One hundred and eighty older adults with MCI were recruited and randomly assigned to combined acupressure and cognitive training group (n = 45), acupressure group (n = 45), cognitive training group (n = 45), or control group (n = 45). Participants in the experimental groups received self-administered and group-based training sessions, while those in the control group received routine community education. The intervention lasted for 6 months. The cognitive functions of all the participants were assessed at multiple stages, including pre-intervention, at the end of the third and sixth months.

Results: One hundred and fifty-one participants completed the study, and all participants analyzed in intervention groups completed at least 85% of all practice sessions recommended. Repeated measures analysis of variance of the scores of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) at different time points among the four groups revealed that the group effect, time effect, and interaction effect were all significant (p < 0.01). Pairwise comparisons with Bonferroni correction showed that the scores of MMSE and MoCA in acupressure group, cognitive training group, and combined group were significantly raised compared with control group (p < 0.01). Compared with acupressure or cognitive training groups, the scores of MMSE and MoCA in combined group were significantly higher (p < 0.05). The scores of MMSE and MoCA in acupressure group had no significant differences with those in cognitive training group (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: Acupressure and cognitive training both could improve the cognitive functions of older adults with MCI, and when used together, the effects were enhanced.

Clinical Trial Registration: This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (No.ChiCTR2100049955).

Physical therapy interventions for the treatment of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS): Systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the impact of interventions on pain associated with DOMS.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, EMBASE, PEDro, Cochrane, and Scielo databases were searched, from the oldest records until May/2020. Search terms used included combinations of keywords related to "DOMS" and "intervention therapy".

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Healthy participants (no restrictions were applied, e.g., age, sex, and exercise level). To be included, studies should be: 1) Randomized clinical trial; 2) Having induced muscle damage and subsequently measuring the level of pain; 3) To have applied therapeutic interventions (nonpharmacological or nutritional) and compare with a control group that received no intervention; and 4) The first application of the intervention had to occur immediately after muscle damage had been induced.

RESULTS

One hundred and twenty-one studies were included. The results revealed that the contrast techniques (p = 0,002 I² = 60 %), cryotherapy (p = 0,002 I² = 100 %), phototherapy (p = 0,0001 I² = 95 %), vibration (p = 0,004 I² = 96 %), ultrasound (p = 0,02 I² = 97 %), massage (p < 0,00001 I² = 94 %), active exercise (p = 0,0004 I² = 93 %) and compression (p = 0,002 I² = 93 %) have a better positive effect than the control in the management of DOMS.

CONCLUSION

Low quality evidence suggests that contrast, cryotherapy, phototherapy, vibration, ultrasound, massage, and active exercise have beneficial effects in the management of DOMS-related pain.