Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2003; 8: 513
This study aims to assess the changes in skin temperature of both hands before, during and after electro-acupuncture (EA) treatment.
Nineteen adults with neck pain were given a course (10 sessions) of EA for pain relief. Skin temperature of both hands was taken before, during (at 5-min intervals to 25 min), and 5 min after EA. Twelve healthy adult volunteers without EA acted as control. Thermographs were taken with an infrared camera (Thermacam PM 575, Sweden). Points selection was individualised, included classic acupuncture points and trigger/tender points. Results of the first and third sessions will be presented.
Two-way analysis of variance for repeated measures showed that there was a significant increase in temperature during both treatment sessions (P < 0.001), but not in the control group. The increase was significant during EA at 10 min (P = 0.039*, 0.008**), 15 min (P = 0.039*, 0.001**), 20 min (P < 0.001*, < 0.001**), 25 min (P = 0.012*, 0.02**) and at 5 min post-EA (P = 0.039*, 0.02**) when compared with baseline temperature before EA (* = first session, ** = second session).
Electro-acupuncture caused significant increase in hand temperature. The maximum increase was attained at 20 min during therapy. The increase in temperature is most probably due to cutaneous vasodilation, which may reflect inhibition of underlying sympathetic activity.
