2018 Volume 17 Issue 1 Pages 1-6
One of the physiological foundations by acupuncture stimulation is believed to be due to the impact of somatosensory input on autonomic function. It is indicated that the cutaneous acupuncture stimulation in synchronization with expiration enhance the parasympathetic nervous activity and the sympathetic nervous activity while sitting posture.
The purpose of this study was to compare with the acupuncture method and tube stimulation method. The measurements were frequency analysis of heart R - R interval variability, blood pressure, and finger - floor distance. Fifteen healthy volunteers, 20 - 26 years of age (mean age of 20.5 ± 0.3 yr.), participated in this study. Spectral analysis of heart rate variability was used to assess cardiac autonomic function. The high - frequency component (HF) reflects vagal activity, while the low - frequency component (LF) reflects both vagal activity and cardiac sympathetic activity. HF was used as an index of parasympathetic activity and LF / HF was an index of sympathetic activity.
Acupuncture and tube stimulations in synchronization with expiration caused significantly (p < 0.01) decrease of HR and enhancement of HF, decrease of LF / HF, and increase of flexibility. Cutaneous stimulation of tube synchronized with expiration cause similarly acupuncture stimulation.
