COMPARISON OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE TRADITIONAL ACUPUNCTURE POINT, ST. 36 AND OMURA's ST.36 POINT (TRUE ST. 36) NEEDLING ON THE ISOKINETIC KNEE EXTENSION & FLEXION STRENGTH OF YOUNG SOCCER PLAYERS

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of the Traditional acupuncture point ST.36 and 'Omura's ST.36 Point' ("True ST.36") needling on the isokinetic knee extension & flexion strength of young soccer players. The Bi-Digital O-Ring Test (B.D.O.R.T.) of Yoshiaki Omura, M.D.,Sc.D. was used to determine the "True ST.36". Young soccer players (N = 24) between 16-18 years of age (Mean = 16.92 +/- 0.65) were involved in the study. The extension & flexion strengths of dominant legs were measured with Cybex 350 Extremity System isokinetically. The testing velocity was 60 degrees/sec. The peak torque value in Newton meters (Nm) was evaluated. Subjects were tested 3 times. Extension & Flexion 1 (EXT1, FLEX1) without acupuncture application, EXT2 & FLEX2 after application on the traditional acupuncture point, ST.36 and EXT3 & FLEX3 after application onto the 'Omura's New Foot-point' ("True ST.36"). Before each test, subjects warmed up for 10 minutes by cycling on an isokinetic ergometer at 50 RPM, 75 Watts load followed by stretching exercises of lower extremity. Mean EXT1, EXT2, EXT3 values were 196.92 +/- 28.70: 210.00 +/- 23.00; 224.42 +/- 21.70 respectively, where FLEX1, FLEX2, FLEX3 were 140.88 +/- 22.45; 151.13 +/- 21.27; 161.00 +/- 22.23. Comparisons of EXT1-EXT2, EXT1-EXT3, EXT2-EXT3, FLEX1-FLEX2, FLEX1-FLEX3, FLEX2-FLEX3 strength values showed all very high significance (P < 0.001) in favor of 1) Needling on relevant points and 2) Omura's ST.36 Point ("True ST.36"). We conclude that B.D.O.R.T. can help to determine new (True) Acupuncture points and, both points were effective for increasing the isokinetic knee extension & flexion strength of young soccer players very significantly where as Omura's ST.36 Point ("True ST.36") was more effective than Traditional Acupuncture point, ST.36.