Abstract
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation over acupoints (Acu-TENS) facilitates recovery of resting heart rate after treadmill exercise in healthy subjects. Its effect on postexercise respiratory indices has not been reported. This study investigates the effect of Acu-TENS on forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) in healthy subjects after a submaximal exercise. Eleven male subjects were invited to the laboratory twice, two weeks apart, to receive in random order either Acu-TENS or Placebo-TENS (no electrical output from the TENS unit) over bilateral Lieque (LU7) and Dingchuan (EX-B1) for 45 minutes, before undergoing exercise following the Bruce protocol. Exercise duration, rate of perceived exertion (RPE), and peak heart rate (PHR) were recorded. Between-group FEV1 and FVC, before, immediately after, at 15, 30, and 45minutes postexercise, were compared. While no between-group differences in PHR, RPE, and FVC were found, Acu-TENS was associated with a longer exercise duration (0.9 min (P = .026)) and a higher percentage increase in FEV1 at 15 and 45 minutes postexercise (3.3 ± 3.7% (P = .013) and 5.1 ± 7.5% (P = .047), resp.) compared to Placebo-TENS. We concluded that Acu-TENS was associated with a higher postexercise FEV1 and a prolongation of submaximal exercise.
Highlights
Aerobic training improves the body’s ability to meet increased ventilatory demands during exercise, and ventilatory endurance contributes to improved exercise performance [1]
All subjects had basal forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) which were more than 85% of the predicted value and an FEV1/FVC ratio >75%
Our study demonstrated that subjects after Acu-Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) had an increase in FEV1 after exercise while a reduction in postexercise FEV1 was associated with Placebo-TENS
Summary
Aerobic training improves the body’s ability to meet increased ventilatory demands during exercise, and ventilatory endurance contributes to improved exercise performance [1]. Exercise can increase airway resistance in subjects with reactive airways [2] which leads to increased work of breathing and induces a sensation of shortness of breath, thereby limiting exercise performance and training intensity [1]. Previous studies have suggested that acupuncture, a technique which facilitates free flow of Qi, can alleviate dyspnoeic symptoms [4, 5], reduce postexercise bronchoconstriction [6], and improve exercise capacity [4]. Application of TENS over an acupuncture point (Acu-TENS) has been shown to facilitate the return to resting heart rate after an intensive treadmill exercise in healthy subjects [13]. Its effect on respiratory parameters after exercise in healthy subjects has not been reported. This study aims to investigate the effect of AcuTENS on forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
