Effects of auriculotherapy on muscle fatigue: A randomized crossover trial

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed investigate the effect of auriculotherapy on exercise-induced muscle fatigue, isometric torque production, and surface electromyographic activity (EMG).

METHODS

Design: Randomized Crossover Trial. The sample consisted of 18 males' volunteers who exercised at least twice a week.

THE SAMPLE WAS RANDOMLY ASSIGNED TO TWO GROUPS

Placebo Group (n = 9) and Treated Group (n = 9), and after seven days, the groups were crossed. The data analysis included 18 participants in each group.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

The muscle fatigue index, force production rate, and EMG of the quadriceps were used for evaluation. The evaluation moments included baseline pre-fatigue, baseline post-fatigue, 48 h post-intervention pre-fatigue, and 48 h post-intervention post-fatigue. Mixed two-way test ANOVA was used to compare times and groups.

RESULTS

The fatigue index for peak torque and work showed no significant effect on time, groups, or interaction (p > 0.05). However, for isometric torque, force production rate, and EMG median frequency and average, the results indicate a positive change in values over time (p < 0.05) (with little practical relevance), with no differences observed between the groups or interaction (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, auriculotherapy had no effect on exercise-induced muscle fatigue, isometric torque production, and surface electromyographic activity.

Effect of Systemic and Auricular Acupuncture with a 2/100 Hz Frequency and Nogier Frequency in Fibromyalgia: a Randomized Clinical Trial, Pilot Study

Background

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome of chronic, generalized muscular pain, accompanied by sleep disturbances, fatigue and cardic autonomic dysfunction that will affect the quality of life. There is currently no gold standard treatment. There are limitations of studies with electroacupuncture in auricular acupuncture.

Objectives

We evaluate the effects of systemic electroacupuncture (EA) with frequencies of 2/100 Hz associated of auricular acupuncture with a Nogier frequency (2.28, 4.56 and 9.12 Hz) for pain intensity, heart rate variability (HRV), and quality of life in fibromyalgia.

Methods

Randomized clinical trial, a pilot study. Eighteen volunteers were randomized into a control group (CG, n = 9) and an experimental group (EG, n = 9). Six systemic EA sessions systemic and auricular were applied in the EG for 20 min, twice a week, for six weeks consecutive. The Numerical Pain Assessment Scale (NPRS), 2010 diagnostic criteria of the American College of Rheumatology (FDC 2010), Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and analysis of HRV were the instruments used. The independent t-test compared to the groups was applied.

Results

There was no statistically significant difference for the primary outcome for NPRS (p > 0.05). In the secondary outcome there was a significant difference in the total score and in some FIQ domains (p = 0.008) and some variables such as pain (p = 0.02) and anxiety (p = 0.006). There was no significant difference for the FDC 2010 and HRV variables (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

2/100 Hz systemic EA associated with the Nogier frequency positively influenced some quality of life variables; however, pain intensity, diagnostic criteria, and HRV variables did not change.

Pulsed Laser Acupuncture in the Treatment of Pain and Heart Rate Variability in Fibromyalgia Patients: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial

Introduction: Laser acupuncture (LA) is a medically approved treatment for chronic pain, especially fibromyalgia. It is widely known that all pain is related to autonomic modulation, which may influence heart rate variability (HRV). There are robust studies in the literature on the effect of LA with continuous frequency on musculoskeletal pain and autonomic modulation. However, little is known about the effect of pulsed frequency on fibromyalgia. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate whether an individualized intervention protocol applying pulsed LA would provide benefits related to pain symptoms and cardiac autonomic modulation in patients with fibromyalgia. Methods: In this pilot randomized clinical controlled trial, the sample consisted of women with fibromyalgia between the ages of 40 and 80, randomized into two groups: a control group (CG; n=10) and an experimental group (EG; n=10). EG received the intervention twice per week for 3 weeks. Statistical analysis was conducted by delta (difference between post-intervention and pre-intervention) and the Shapiro-Wilk test (normality). For comparison between the groups, the Mann-Whitney test was used. Results: The results showed a significant reduction in pain intensity as reported via the pain numerical scale (PNS; P=0.00), generalized pain index (GPI; P=0.00), and symptom severity scale (SSS; P=0.00). There was no significant difference in any HRV variable (P>0.05). Conclusion: Pulsed LA, when applied in an individualized protocol, can reduce pain intensity, as reported on the PNS, GPI, and SSS. However, no therapeutic effect was observed for HRV.

Aquatic Exercise on Brain Activity in Type 2 Diabetic: Randomized Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND

A water-based physical exercise program is extremely important for the rehabilitation of type 2 diabetes. Little is known about its action on cerebral electrical activity.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of a water-based physical exercise protocol on electroencephalographic activity, blood glucose levels, and functional capacity, as well as their correlation, in type 2 diabetics.

METHODS

Study design: Randomized Clinical Trial. Forty volunteers were randomized into two groups: control (n = 20) and study (n = 20). A water-based physical exercise program comprising 50 min sessions was conducted three times a week for five weeks. Assessments were performed at the pre- and post-intervention and follow-up phases. The qualitative data were compared using the Mann-Whitney test and Chi-Square. Quantitative data were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis, Independent t, and ANOVA mixed tests. The Spearman correlation coefficient was used to correlate the data.

RESULTS

The data were similar when comparing the groups. Six-minute walk test data increased in the comparison between times (p = 0.01-PrexPos). EEG data decreased in comparison between times (prexfollow-up-p < 0.05), except AF3. EEG data decreased in the timexgroup comparison (prexfollow-up and postxfollow-up-p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The water-based exercise protocol maintained electroencephalographic activity, glucose levels, and functional capacity in people with type 2 diabetes, and there was no relationship between brain electrical activity and capillary blood glucose.

Effect of Foot Reflexology on Muscle Electrical Activity, Pressure, Plantar Distribution, and Body Sway in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE

To verify the effect of foot reflexology on the electrical muscle activity of the lateral and medial gastrocnemius muscle, and to examine the distribution, plantar pressure, and body sway in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

This pilot randomized controlled trial enrolled 17 volunteers who were clinically diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. The sample was assigned to one of two groups: the control group (CG, n = 7), who received information on foot care and health, and the intervention group (IG, n = 10), who received the application of foot reflexology on specific areas of the feet, for 10 consecutive days. There was blinding of the evaluator and the therapist. Surface electromyography (EMG) was used to assess the electrical activity of the medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscles in maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) and isotonic contraction (IC); baropodometry and stabilometry were used to analyze unloading, plantar weight distribution, and body sway.

RESULTS

There was a statistically significant difference for the variables of maximum peak electrical activity of the left medial gastrocnemius (p = 0.03; effect size = 0.87 and power = 0.81) and left lateral gastrocnemius muscles (p = 0.04, effect size = 0.70 and power = 0.66) respectively, in the intragroup IC, and median frequency of the left medial gastrocnemius muscle in the intragroup MVIC (p = 0.03; effect size = 0.64 and power = 0.59), and in the variables intergroups of the total area on the right side (p = 0.04; effect size = 1.03 and power = 0.50) and forefoot area on the left side (p = 0.02; effect size = 0.51 and power = 0.16).

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that foot reflexology influenced some variables of the intergroup plantar distribution and intragroup EMG in the sample studied. There is a need for a placebo group, a larger sample and a follow-up to strengthen the findings of these experiments.

Is There a Relation between Brain and Muscle Activity after Virtual Reality Training in Individuals with Stroke? A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective-The aim was to verify the correlation between cerebral and muscular electrical activity in subjects trained in virtual reality after a stroke. Method-The trial design was a cross-sectional study. Fourteen volunteers who were diagnosed with a stroke participated in the study. The intervention protocol was to perform functional activity with an upper limb using virtual reality. The functional protocol consisted of four one-minute series with a two-minute interval between series in a single session. Results-We observed, at initial rest, a positive correlation between brachii biceps and the frontal canal medial region (F7/F8) (r = 0.59; p = 0.03) and frontal canal lateral region (F3/F4) (r = 0.71; p = 0.006). During the activity, we observed a positive correlation between the anterior deltoid and frontal anterior channel (AF3/AF4) (r = 0.73; p = 0.004). At final rest, we observed a positive correlation between the anterior deltoid and temporal region channel (T7/T8) (r = 0.70; p = 0.005). Conclusions-We conclude that there was no correlation between brain and muscle activity for the biceps brachii muscle in subjects trained with virtual reality. However, there was a positive correlation for the deltoid anterior muscle.

The effects of auricular acupuncture on vascular parameters on the risk factors for diabetic foot: A randomized clinical trial

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effects of auricular acupuncture on vascular parameters on the risk factors for Diabetic Foot.

METHODS

Randomized and masked clinical trial. The sample was composed of 44 individuals with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and they were randomly assigned to two groups: intervention (n = 22), which received five sessions of auricular acupuncture, and control (n = 22), which did not receive the therapy. Three evaluations were performed: before the intervention; one day after the last acupuncture session and 15 days after the second evaluation. For this, the subject's characterization instrument, the Ankle-Brachial Index measurement, and thermography were used. For data analysis, Mann-Whitney, Wilcoxon, Wilcoxon signed-rank, Fisher's Exact and Chi-Square tests were used.

RESULTS

Auriculotherapy provided results in the Ankle-Brachial Index Test, as well as in thermography, which showed significant temperature improvement.

CONCLUSIONS

The technique proved to be efficient in improving circulatory conditions and plantar temperature.