Local increase in trapezius muscle oxygenation during and after acupuncture

Masaki Ohkubo, Takafumi Hamaoka, Masatugu Niwayama, Norio Murase, Takuya Osada, Ryotaro Kime, Yuko Kurosawa, Ayumi Sakamoto, Toshihito Katsumura, Masaki Ohkubo, Takafumi Hamaoka, Masatugu Niwayama, Norio Murase, Takuya Osada, Ryotaro Kime, Yuko Kurosawa, Ayumi Sakamoto, Toshihito Katsumura

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the trapezius muscle blood volume and oxygenation in the stimulation region and in a distant region in the same muscle during acupuncture stimulation (AS). We hypothesized that AS provokes a localized increase in muscle blood volume and oxygenation in the stimulation region.

Methods: Two sets of near-infrared spectrometer (NIRS) probes, with 40-mm light-source detector spacing, were placed on the right trapezius muscle, with a 50-mm distance between the probes. Changes in muscle oxygenation (oxy-Hb) and blood volume (t-Hb) in stimulation and distant regions (50 mm away from the stimulation point) were measured using NIRS. Nine healthy acupuncture-experienced subjects were chosen as the experimental (AS) group, and 10 healthy acupuncture-experienced subjects were chosen for the control (no AS) group. Measurements began with a 3-min rest period, followed by "Jakutaku" (AS) for 2 min, and recovery after stimulation.

Results: There was a significant increase in oxy-Hb (60.7 muM at maximum) and t-Hb (48.1 muM at maximum) in the stimulation region compared to the distant region. In the stimulation region, a significant increase in oxy-Hb and t-Hb compared with the pre-stimulation level was first noted at 58.5 s and 13.5 s, respectively, after the onset of stimulation.

Conclusion: In conclusion, oxygenation and blood volume increased, indicating elevated blood flow to the small vessels, not in the distant region used in this study, but in the stimulation region of the trapezius muscle during and after a 2-min AS.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Measurement site and stimulation point (a) and measurement area and stimulation point (b).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Changes in oxygenated haemoglobin (oxy-Hb), deoxygenated Hb (deoxy-Hb), and total Hb (t-Hb) in the control group throughout the experiment (no acupuncture stimulation). The values for oxy-Hb, deoxy-Hb, and t-Hb in the stimulation region were each averaged to 10-s intervals. There was no change in any parameters for the control group. OD is optical density. The number of the subjects is 10. Values are represented as means ± S.D.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Changes in oxy-Hb, deoxy-Hb, and t-Hb at pre-stimulation rest and during acupuncture stimulation (AS) and recovery from AS in the stimulation and distant regions in the trapezius muscle. A significant difference in oxy-Hb and t-Hb is noted between stimulation and distant regions as indicated by (#). Significant increases in oxy-Hb and t-Hb compared with pre-stimulation levels are indicated by (*). The number of the subjects is 9. Values are represented as means ± S.D.

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