TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of 4 weeks of Acu-TENS on functional capacity and β-endorphin level in subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A randomized controlled trial
AU - Ngai, Shirley P.C.
AU - Jones, Alice Y.M.
AU - Hui-Chan, Christina W.Y.
AU - Ko, Fanny W.S.
AU - Hui, David S.C.
PY - 2010/8/1
Y1 - 2010/8/1
N2 - Our recent studies showed that one session of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on acupoints (Acu-TENS) improved forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study investigated the effect of 4-week Acu-TENS on physical and psychosocial function in these patients. Twenty-eight patients were randomly allocated to receive 4-weeks of 45-min, 5-days/week, of either Acu-TENS (over Dingchuan), Placebo-TENS (same protocol without electrical output), or Sham-TENS (over the patellae). Variables measured before and after intervention included FEV1, forced vital capacity (FVC), 6-min walk distance (6MWD), St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire score (SGRQ), β-endorphin and blood inflammatory marker levels. Only the Acu-TENS group attained significant improvement in FEV1(p=0.046), physical activity (p=0.007) and total SGRQ score (p=0.028). The increase in β-endorphin (p=0.012) correlated positively with the improvement in FEV1(r=0.526, p=0.008). To conclude, 4 weeks of Acu-TENS improved the functional capacity of patients with COPD, probably due to the bronchodilation induced by β-endorphin elevation.
AB - Our recent studies showed that one session of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on acupoints (Acu-TENS) improved forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study investigated the effect of 4-week Acu-TENS on physical and psychosocial function in these patients. Twenty-eight patients were randomly allocated to receive 4-weeks of 45-min, 5-days/week, of either Acu-TENS (over Dingchuan), Placebo-TENS (same protocol without electrical output), or Sham-TENS (over the patellae). Variables measured before and after intervention included FEV1, forced vital capacity (FVC), 6-min walk distance (6MWD), St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire score (SGRQ), β-endorphin and blood inflammatory marker levels. Only the Acu-TENS group attained significant improvement in FEV1(p=0.046), physical activity (p=0.007) and total SGRQ score (p=0.028). The increase in β-endorphin (p=0.012) correlated positively with the improvement in FEV1(r=0.526, p=0.008). To conclude, 4 weeks of Acu-TENS improved the functional capacity of patients with COPD, probably due to the bronchodilation induced by β-endorphin elevation.
KW - β-Endorphin
KW - Acu-TENS
KW - COPD
KW - Cumulative effect
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77955428039&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.resp.2010.06.005
DO - 10.1016/j.resp.2010.06.005
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 20601209
SN - 1569-9048
VL - 173
SP - 29
EP - 36
JO - Respiratory Physiology and Neurobiology
JF - Respiratory Physiology and Neurobiology
IS - 1
ER -