Effect of low-frequency acupuncture on muscle and fascia stiffness: examination with or without intervention.
Toshihiro Maemichi, Masatomo Matsumoto, Shigeru Meguriya and 4 others
PMID 39726565WHAT IT FOUND
Low-frequency acupuncture applied to the calf muscle of healthy men increased ankle dorsiflexion range of motion by about 7 degrees 15 minutes after treatment.
Stiffness in deep muscle and fascia decreased, while surface fascia stiffness increased immediately after treatment before returning to baseline.
Key findings
01Ankle dorsiflexion range of motion increased significantly 15 minutes after low-frequency acupuncture in the treated leg, but not in the untreated control leg.
02Stiffness of the gastrocnemius muscle and deep intermuscular fascia decreased significantly 15 minutes after treatment compared to baseline.
03Stiffness of the deep fascia (superficial to the muscle) increased immediately after treatment and then decreased, returning to baseline levels by 15 minutes.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study included only 12 healthy young men, so results may not apply to women, older adults, or individuals with pathology. Participants were healthy, so the effects on fatigued muscles or injured tissues were not examined. Only one electrical stimulation frequency (2 Hz) and duration (15 minutes) were tested. The study did not compare invasive acupuncture to non-invasive electrical stimulation methods.
Declared interests
The authors declared no financial support for the research, authorship, or publication of the article.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume these findings apply to patients with musculoskeletal injuries or fatigue. The study was conducted on healthy young men with no reported disorders, and the authors note that effects might differ when treating fatigued muscles.