Acupuncture can be beneficial for exercise-induced muscle soreness: A randomised controlled trial

Effects of Acupuncture on Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…e evidence for the benefit of acupuncture to relieve the symptoms of DOMS was still weak. Based on our review, limited findings of Authors (years) Cardoso (2020) [17] Fleckenstein (2016) [19] Martín-Pintado-Zugasti (2017) [20] Martín-Pintado-Zugasti (2017) [20] Yang (2016) [21] Itoh (2008) [25] Barlas (2000) a [28] Barlas (2000) b [28] Itoh (2008) [25] Itoh (2008) [25] Barlas 2000 Subgroups SMD 95% CI SMD, 95% CI n Figure 4: Forest plots; subgroup analysis of pain at days 1, 2, and 3 (acupuncture vs. control group; a acupuncture on P2, CO11, LU5, and CO4 acupuncture points; b acupuncture on Ah-Shi acupuncture point).…”

“…Among these 34 studies, 14 articles researched other nontraditional types of acupuncture or interventions in traditional Chinese medicine, and five articles used acupuncture before DOMS in an experimental group were excluded. Finally, 15 studies about acupuncture for DOMS were reviewed (Figure 1) [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31]. e studies included seven English and three non-English articles.…”

“…Four of the included articles had found that PPT in the acupuncture group was significantly improved compared to sham or control groups (P < 0.05) [18,23,29,31]. But, in the four articles, the outcomes on PPT did improve significantly (P > 0.05) [17,19,26,28]. Paulson et al [22] observed increased skin conductance and decreased skin temperature after acupuncture, and the differences were significant (P < 0.05).…”

“…Assessments Assessment times Outcomes Cardoso et al (2020) [17] VAS, PPT Pre-post acupuncture, day 1 Significant decrease in VAS at postacupuncture among the groups * Benito-de-Pedro et al (2020) [18] PPT, thermographic measurement Pre-post acupuncture Improved PPT at postacupuncture * A significant difference in PPT between the groups Fleckenstein et al (2016) [19] VAS A significant improvement in muscle strength at day 3 and in PPT at day 2 between the groups * No significant differences in the levels of serum creatine kinase between the groups * P < 0.05, comparison between group differences.…”

“…In previous studies, tender points (i.e., the Ah-Shi acupuncture points) were chosen for treating DOMS with acupuncture [20,23,25,28]. DOMS causes muscle soreness Authors (years) Cardoso (2020) [17] Fleckenstein (2016) [19] Martín-Pintado-Zugasti (2017) [20] Martín-Pintado-Zugasti (2017) [20] Itoh (2008) [25] Barlas 2000 and pain, and acupuncture on tender points can address the muscular condition. Acupuncture stimulation of tender points could activate the sensitized polymodal-type receptors of the muscle to reduce pain [43].…”