Acupuncture Points and Perforating Cutaneous Vessels Identified Using Infrared Thermography: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study

D Álvarez-Prats, O Carvajal-Fernández, F Valera Garrido, D Pecos-Martín, A García-Godino, M M Santafe, F Medina-Mirapeix, D Álvarez-Prats, O Carvajal-Fernández, F Valera Garrido, D Pecos-Martín, A García-Godino, M M Santafe, F Medina-Mirapeix

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate the presence of perforating cutaneous vessels (PCV) in different lower limb acupuncture points (AP) using thermography.

Material and methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was performed on the two lower limbs (n=6) of volunteer subjects. In total, 144 AP and 144 control points (CP) were analysed, one for each AP. First, the AP and CP were located on each individual. Subsequently, both the real and thermographic images were created. In the real images, the location of the AP and the established CP were highlighted with boxes. FLIR Tools Plus and Physio Thermal Imaging software were used to merge the real image with the AP and the CP and to merge the thermographic image with the PCV. By superimposing both images, we were able to verify the presence of PCV among the AP and CP.

Results: PCV were identified in 87.5% of the 144 AP examined and in 18.1% of the respective CP. All the AP had a higher percentage of PCV compared to their respective CP, with statistically significant differences in all points, except for ST33 and ST34. The probability of finding PCV in AP was 11 times higher than the probability of not finding it.

Discussion: Thermography may serve as a useful tool in the assessment and treatment of patients using acupuncture. The presence of PCV in the area of the acupuncture needle insertion could partially influence the effects generated by the acupuncture technique from the vascular autonomic point of view.

Conclusions: There is a high proportion of PCV in the AP area located in the lower limb.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Modified from Focks C. Atlas of acupuncture, China, Elsevier Churchill Livingstone, 2006. The image shows the classic description of the meridians of the lower limb used in this study. The arrows indicate the acupuncture points while the symbols shown in purple are the CP, one for each AP along the same meridian.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The image shows the different phases of the technical process of capturing the thermogram as well as the different types of computer processing. The thermal image in the acclimatisation period (upper left); image after provoking the venoarteriolar skin reflex (upper right); real image showing AP markings (middle); thermal merging (lower image).
Figure 3
Figure 3
The image shows the percentage of acupuncture and control points with PCV.

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Source: PubMed

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