The Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation of Sympathetic Ganglions and Acupuncture Points on Distal Blood Flow.
Author: Kamali F1, Mirkhani H2, Nematollahi A1, Heidari S3, Moosavi E3, Mohamadi M3
Affiliation:
1Rehabilitation Science Research Center, Department of Physical Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
2Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Medical and Natural Products Chemistry Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Electronic address: mirkhanh@sums.ac.ir.
3Student Research Committee, Department of Physical Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Conference/Journal: J Acupunct Meridian Stud.
Date published: 2017 Apr
Other:
Volume ID: 10 , Issue ID: 2 , Pages: 120-124 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.jams.2017.01.003. Epub 2017 Jan 12. , Word Count: 214
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a widely-practiced method to increase blood flow in clinical practice. The best location for stimulation to achieve optimal blood flow has not yet been determined. We compared the effect of TENS application at sympathetic ganglions and acupuncture points on blood flow in the foot of healthy individuals. Seventy-five healthy individuals were randomly assigned to three groups. The first group received cutaneous electrical stimulation at the thoracolumbar sympathetic ganglions. The second group received stimulation at acupuncture points. The third group received stimulation in the mid-calf area as a control group. Blood flow was recorded at time zero as baseline and every 3 minutes after baseline during stimulation, with a laser Doppler flow-meter. Individuals who received sympathetic ganglion stimulation showed significantly greater blood flow than those receiving acupuncture point stimulation or those in the control group (p<0.001). Data analysis revealed that blood flow at different times during stimulation increased significantly from time zero in each group. Therefore, the application of low-frequency TENS at the thoracolumbar sympathetic ganglions was more effective in increasing peripheral blood circulation than stimulation at acupuncture points.
Copyright © 2017 Medical Association of Pharmacopuncture Institute. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS: acupuncture; blood circulation; electrical stimulation; sympathetic ganglia; transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
PMID: 28483183 DOI: 10.1016/j.jams.2017.01.003
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