title: Effect of Acu-TENS on recovery heart rate after treadmill running exercise in subjects with normal health.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to investigate the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, applied at bilateral acupuncture points PC6 (Acu-TENS), on recovery heart rate (HR) in healthy subjects after treadmill running exercise.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single blinded, randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laboratory with healthy male subjects (n=28).
  
  
  METHODS
  Each subject participated in three separate protocols in random order. PROTOCOL A: The subject followed the Bruce protocol and ran on a treadmill until their HR reached 70% of their maximum (220-age). At this 'target' HR, the subject adopted the supine position and Acu-TENS to bilateral PC6 was commenced. PROTOCOL B: Identical to protocol A except that Acu-TENS was applied in the supine position for 45min prior to, but not after exercise. PROTOCOL C: Identical to protocol A except that placebo Acu-TENS was applied.
  
  
  METHODS
  Heart rate was recorded before and at 30s intervals after exercise until it returned to the pre-exercise baseline. The time for HR to return to baseline was compared for each protocol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Acu-TENS applied to bilateral PC6 resulted in a faster return to pre-exercise HR compared to placebo. Time required for HR to return to pre-exercise level in protocols A-C was 5.5+/-3.0; 4.8+/-3.3; 9.4+/-3.7 min, respectively (p<0.001). There was no statistical difference in HR recovery time between protocols A and B. Subjects expressed the lowest rate of perceived exertion score (RPE) at 70% maximum HR with protocol B.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that Acu-TENS applied to PC6 may facilitate HR recovery after high intensity treadmill exercise.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Alice Ho Mui Ling Nethersole Hospital, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Leo Chin-Ting
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Alice Yee-Men
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016683:Supine Position; D013997:Time Factors; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation