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Immediate effects of acupuncture on strength performance: a randomized, controlled crossover trial

European Journal of Applied Physiology volume 110, pages 353–358 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

The present study investigated the immediate efficacy of acupuncture compared to sham acupuncture and placebo laser acupuncture on strength performance. A total of 33 recreational athletes (25.2 ± 2.8 years; 13 women) were randomized to receive acupuncture, sham acupuncture (needling at non-acupuncture points) and placebo laser acupuncture (deactivated laser device) in a double-blind crossover fashion with 1 week between trials. Assessment included bipedal drop jumps for maximum rebound height and quadriceps maximum isometric voluntary force (MIVF). Furthermore, surface electromyography (EMG) was used to measure the EMG activity of the rectus femoris muscle during a 30-s sustained MIVF of the knee extensors. Mean power frequency (MPF) analysis was applied to characterize muscular endurance. Measurements were performed at baseline and immediately after treatment by a blinded investigator. Repeated measures ANOVA and post hoc paired-sample t test with Bonferroni–Holm correction were used for statistical analysis. The difference in the mean change in MIVF from baseline between acupuncture (46.6 N) and sham laser acupuncture (19.6 N) was statistically significant (p < 0.05), but no significant difference was found between acupuncture (46.6 N) and sham acupuncture (28.8 N). ANOVA did not show statistically significant treatment effects for drop jump height or MPF. The present study shows that a single acupuncture treatment was efficacious for improving isometric quadriceps strength in recreational athletes. These results might have implications not only for athletic performance enhancement, but also for rehabilitation programs aimed at restoring neuromuscular function.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a grant from the German Medical Association of Acupuncture.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sports Medicine, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Ginnheimer Landstraße 39, 60487, Frankfurt, Germany

    Markus Hübscher, Lutz Vogt & Winfried Banzer

  2. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany

    Thomas Ziebart

Authors
  1. Markus Hübscher
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  2. Lutz Vogt
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  3. Thomas Ziebart
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  4. Winfried Banzer
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Correspondence to Markus Hübscher.

Additional information

Communicated by Alain Martin.

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Hübscher, M., Vogt, L., Ziebart, T. et al. Immediate effects of acupuncture on strength performance: a randomized, controlled crossover trial. Eur J Appl Physiol 110, 353–358 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1510-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1510-y

Keywords

  • Sham acupuncture
  • Placebo laser
  • Muscle performance
  • Athletes