| Author: | Lau, Shui-lung |
| Title: | Effect of acu-TENS on acupoint stimulation on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients |
| Degree: | M.Sc. |
| Year: | 2006 |
| Subject: | Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations. Lungs -- Diseases, Obstructive -- Patients -- Rehabilitation. Acupuncture points. Acupressure -- Therapeutic use. |
| Department: | Department of Rehabilitation Sciences |
| Pages: | xi, 73 leaves : col. ill. ; 30 cm. |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | Background and study objectives: Acupuncture has been employed for management of various respiratory disorders both under traditional Chinese medicine as well as western approaches. Application of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) over acupuncture points (acu-TENS) demonstrated positive results comparable to needle acupuncture. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of acu-TENS on forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and subjective feeling of shortness of breath (SOB) in subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Design: A single-blinded, randomized controlled, pre-test and post-test study. Setting: This study compared the pre-test and post-test outcome variables on subjects with COPD who received real acu-TENS or placebo TENS. Subjects: A total of 46 (23 each in the test and control group) elderly with complaint of breathlessness caused by COPD were recruited from old aged community centers. After screening with Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) classification, mild to moderate COPD (Stage I and II) elderly were recruited for study. Difficult ambulation clients were excluded. Interventions: NeuroTrac TENS model CE 0120 (Verity Medical LTD, England, UK) was used for the study after calibration. 45 minutes TENS (burst mode, frequency 4 Hz, pulse width 200 microseconds) was applied to acupoint Ex-Bl Ding chuan (定喘) of both groups. TENS current was provided to the test group. For the control group, conduction of current output from the machine was prevented by a non-pole plastic attached to the electrode, while the flashing output light was active. Measurements: Data of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were collected by the Pony spirometer graphic (COSMED Sr1, Italy). Three trials of spirometry tests were done in both groups before and after "TENS application". Subjects were also asked to complete a visual analogue scale on shortness of breath (VAS-SOB) (visual analogue scale, 0 to 100 mm) after completion of the spirometry measurement. Results: Paired t-test showed that subjects with real acu-TENS application demonstrated a significant increase in FEV1 and decrease in VAS-SOB scale after acu-TENS intervention. But this difference was not significant in the control group who received placebo TENS. Conclusion: This study suggests that application of TENS over acupoints Ex-Bl Ding chuan is useful in reducing the sensation of shortness of breath and may have a relieving effect on the breathlessness in subjects with COPD. |
| Rights: | All rights reserved |
| Access: | restricted access |
Files in This Item:
| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| b19863597.pdf | For All Users (off-campus access for PolyU Staff & Students only) | 12.28 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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