title: Electromagnetic acupuncture to enhance the effects of manual acupuncture on recovery from muscle fatigue of the quadriceps.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate a new method of manual acupuncture that used a magnetic field to stimulate only one acupoint vertically. We developed an eight-channel electromagnetic acupuncture (EMA) system that uses a solenoid-type electrode to insert the manual acupuncture needle into a hole in an electrode. We used a manual acupuncture needle for magnetic induction in order to penetrate vertically and deeply into tissues. In order to confirm the usefulness of EMA, we investigated the effects of treatment on muscle fatigue after strenuous knee extension/flexion exercises that had been performed by three groups: the nonstimulation, the manual acupuncture, and the EMA groups. Electromyograms showed that the median frequency (MF) in the EMA group had rapidly recovered after 4 minutes (p = 0.608), but that the peak torque had not recovered to the normal state (p < 0.05). Thus, we confirmed that compared with manual acupuncture, EMA resulted in better recovery from muscle fatigue.
authors.affiliation: Wellness Technology R&D Center, Human and Culture Convergence Technology R&D Group, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, Ansan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Soo-Byeong
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Eastern & Western Biomedical System Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yonsei University, Wonju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Na-Ra
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Yonsei Biomechanics Research Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yonsei University, Wonju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sun-Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Yonsei Biomechanics Research Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yonsei University, Wonju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Soon-Jae
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Medical Computer System Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yonsei University, Wonju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.affiliation: Yonsei Biomechanics Research Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yonsei University, Wonju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Eastern & Western Biomedical System Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yonsei University, Wonju, South Korea. Electronic address: koaim@yonsei.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Yong-Heum
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000328:Adult; D015671:Electroacupuncture / Q000379:methods*; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D055909:Magnetic Field Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000502:physiology*; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: acupuncture point; electromagnetic acupuncture; muscle fatigue; pulsed electromagnetic fields