| Author: | Fong, Ka-chun. |
| Title: | Can acu-TENS improve quality of sleep? |
| Degree: | M.Sc. |
| Year: | 2007 |
| Subject: | Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations Sleep -- Research Acupuncture Insomnia -- Treatment |
| Department: | Department of Rehabilitation Sciences |
| Pages: | xi, 93 leaves : col. ill. ; 30 cm. |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | Background: While sleep is of great importance for health and well-being, many people are suffering from insomnia or sleep disturbance. Acu-TENS, the application of TENS with surface electrode on acupuncture points, may serve as an alternative to acupuncture for this problem. Nevertheless, the potential clinical application of this relatively new modality in the management of people with insomnia has not been investigated. Objectives: To determine if acu-TENS can improve subjective quality of sleep measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and reduce activity counts as measured by an accelerometer (Biotrainer) during sleep. Design: Single-blinded, randomized controlled pre-test and post-test study. Subjects: 26 healthy adult subjects with sleep disturbance, PSQI score > 5, were recruited. Intervention: Subjects were randomly assigned to the acu-TENS or placebo group. Subjects in the acu-TENS group received low-frequency TENS of 2 Hz and pulse width of 200 ยต s on the 2 acupuncture points, Shenmen (HT7) and Sanyinjiao (SP6), bilaterally for 30 minutes. Subjects in placebo group received treatment of same parameters except that the intensity was of zero output. In both groups, treatments were carried out for a total of 12 sessions in 4 weeks. All subjects had baseline measures taken before the first treatment and post-treatment assessments were undertaken after the last treatment. Main outcome measure: The effects of acu-TENS treatment were measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, a self-rated questionnaire to assess sleep quality/ disturbance during the month before acu-TENS intervention and for the month during acu-TENS intervention. Sleep time activity counts as measured by accelerometer were recorded for two consecutive nights prior to, and two nights after the completion of the acu-TENS programme. Results: Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed Ranked test. Statistically significant improvement in PSQI scores and reduction in sleep activity counts were demonstrated in the acu-TENS group after acu-TENS intervention. However, the changes in these scores before and after placebo intervention were not significant in the control group. Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrated that the application of TENS over acupoints Shenmen (HT7) and Sanyinjiao (SP6) was effective in improving quality of sleep. |
| Rights: | All rights reserved |
| Access: | restricted access |
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| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| b21741761.pdf | For All Users (off-campus access for PolyU Staff & Students only) | 6.81 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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