Acupuncture Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Acupuncture, including details on alternative medicine, uses, benefits, treatment, chinese medicine.

Effect of Acu-TENS on recovery heart rate after treadmill running exercise in subjects with normal health.

Cheung LC, Jones AY

Department of Physiotherapy, Alice Ho Mui Ling Nethersole Hospital, Hong Kong.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, applied at bilateral acupuncture points PC6 (Acu-TENS), on recovery heart rate (HR) in healthy subjects after treadmill running exercise. DESIGN: A single blinded, randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Laboratory with healthy male subjects (n=28). INTERVENTIONS: Each subject participated in three separate protocols in random order. PROTOCOL A: The subject followed the Bruce protocol and ran on a treadmill until their HR reached 70% of their maximum (220-age). At this 'target' HR, the subject adopted the supine position and Acu-TENS to bilateral PC6 was commenced. PROTOCOL B: Identical to protocol A except that Acu-TENS was applied in the supine position for 45min prior to, but not after exercise. PROTOCOL C: Identical to protocol A except that placebo Acu-TENS was applied. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Heart rate was recorded before and at 30s intervals after exercise until it returned to the pre-exercise baseline. The time for HR to return to baseline was compared for each protocol. RESULTS: Acu-TENS applied to bilateral PC6 resulted in a faster return to pre-exercise HR compared to placebo. Time required for HR to return to pre-exercise level in protocols A-C was 5.5+/-3.0; 4.8+/-3.3; 9.4+/-3.7 min, respectively (p<0.001). There was no statistical difference in HR recovery time between protocols A and B. Subjects expressed the lowest rate of perceived exertion score (RPE) at 70% maximum HR with protocol B. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that Acu-TENS applied to PC6 may facilitate HR recovery after high intensity treadmill exercise.

Published 4 June 2007 in Complement Ther Med, 15(2): 109-14.
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