Influence of electroacupuncture stimulation on skin temperature, skin blood flow, muscle blood volume and pupil diameter
https://doi.org/10.1136/acupmed-2017-011433
Article first published online: November 29, 2019
Tomoko Kubota1, Hidetoshi Mori1, 2, Tateyuki Morisawa3, Kazuyo Hanyu2, 4, Hiroshi Kuge2, 5, Mayumi Watanabe2, Tim H Tanaka2
1Division of Health Sciences, Graduate School of Technology and Science, Tsukuba University of Technology, Tsukuba, Japan
2Department of Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Tsukuba University of Technology, Tsukuba, Japan
3Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
4Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, Tsukuba University of Technology, Tsukuba, Japan
5Department of Anesthesiology Pain Clinic, Osaka Medical College Hospital, Osaka, Japan
Corresponding Author:
Tim H Tanaka, Department of Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Tsukuba University of Technology, Tsukuba, Japan. Email: tanaka@pacificwellness.ca
Abstract
Objective:
To examine the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation on multiple physiological indices and to evaluate both local and systemic physiological responses induced by the stimulation.
Methods:
15 healthy male college students participated in an experimental crossover study. They received two kinds of interventions: one with EA stimulation and one without EA stimulation on different days. Two disposable acupuncture needles were inserted at two traditional acupuncture points (ST36 and ST38), located along the anterior tibialis muscle. EA stimulation was administered for 10 min. Skin temperature (ST), skin blood flow (SBF) and muscle blood volume (MBV) were recorded near the stimulation sites, while the pupil diameter (PD) was measured before, during and after the interventions.
Results:
ST, SBF and MBV increased significantly following EA stimulation. PD of the right and left eyes decreased significantly following EA stimulation. There was a significant difference in ST responses between the groups (P=0.001). For SBF, MBV and PD, no significant differences were demonstrated between the groups.