Effect Of Moxibustion On Knee Joint Stiffness Characteristics In Recreational Athletes Pre And Post Fatigue

Abstract

Stiffness is the coupling of nervous system and joint mechanics, and thus the comprehensive representative of joint stability. It has been reported that moxibustion can improve weakness and alleviate fatigue symptoms. PURPOSE: To investigate whether moxibustion could enhance knee joint stiffness characteristics in recreational athletes pre and post fatigue. METHODS: Twenty-four participants were partially randomized into intervention (9 males: 20.2 ± 1.5 yr; 6 females: 20.7 ± 1.2 yr) and control group (5 males: 19.4 ± 0.9 yr; 4 females: 20.5 ± 0.6 yr). Intervention group: Acupoints ST36 (bilateral) and CV4 for indirect moxibustion 30 min every other day for 4 consecutive weeks; control group: no moxibustion intervention. Peak torque (PT) of right knee extensors, relaxed and contracted muscle stiffness (MS) of vastus lateralis, knee extensors musculoarticular stiffness (MAS) were assessed by isokinetic dynamometer IsoMed 2000, Myometer and free oscillation technique respectively, at three time points: pre-intervention (time-point 1), post-intervention (time-point 2), and after a treadmill fatigue protocol (time-point 3). RESULTS: Two-way repeated measures ANOVA found a significant interaction between time and group in MAS (p = 0.001) and normalized PT (p = 0.004). Post-hoc tests with the Bonferroni-adjusted α were conducted and identified that MAS in intervention group (time-point 1: 521.8±201.3 N/m, time-point 2: 637.7±181.2 N/m) increased more from pre to post intervention when compared to the control group (time-point 1: 615.4±196.6 N/m, time-point 2: 597.1±190.4 N/m) (p = 0.022). There was a tendency that after fatigue MAS increased more in intervention group (time-point 2: 637.7±181.2 N/m, time-point 3: 712.1±156.9 N/m) than in control group (time-point 2: 597.1±190.4 N/m, time-point 3: 629.8±172.7 N/m) (p = 0.202); and the tendency that normalized PT (PT/body mass) increased in intervention group (time-point 2: 1.49 ± 0.20 Nm/kg, time-point 3: 1.53 ± 0.17 Nm/kg) whilst it decreased in control group (time-point 2: 1.41 ± 0.21 Nm/kg, time-point 3: 1.34 ± 0.21 Nm/kg) (p = 0.033). CONCLUSION: Moxibustion enhanced the knee MAS, may benefit the ability of fatigue resistance in young recreational athletes, and thus could be utilized in injury prevention. Supported by Jiangsu Education Department