title: Bilateral effects of 6 weeks' unilateral acupuncture and electroacupuncture on ankle dorsiflexors muscle strength: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of unilateral manual acupuncture at selected acupoints on ankle dorsiflexion strength of both limbs, and compare the effect with that of electroacupuncture at the same acupoints and sham points.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rehabilitation laboratory of a university.
  
  
  METHODS
  Young men (N=43) were randomly allocated into 4 groups: control; manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture on 2 acupoints (ST-36 and ST-39); and electroacupuncture on 2 nonacupoints. These points were located on the tibialis anterior muscle.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants in the experimental groups received 15 to 30 minutes of acupuncture or electroacupuncture on the right leg in each session, 3 sessions per week for 6 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  The maximal strength in isometric ankle dorsiflexion of both legs was assessed before and after the experimental period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Repeated-measures analysis of variance identified significant and similar strength gains (range, 35%-64% in the right leg and 32%-49% in the left leg; P<.01) in all acupuncture groups, but not in the control group (-2% to 2%, P>.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Unilateral manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture at the acupoints can improve muscle strength in both limbs, and electroacupuncture at the nonacupoints as used in this study can also induce similar strength gains.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Exercise Science, Tianjin University of Sport, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Shi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Li-Ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jun-Hai
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Long-Jun
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Cao
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000293:Adolescent; D000843:Ankle Joint; D002681:China; D015671:Electroacupuncture / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult