2015-02-03 11:44:03
A study was recently published that tested the regulatory effects of acupuncture on exercise tolerance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (1). Thirty cases of COPD were randomly divided into a treatment group or placebo group. Based on specified aerobic exercise, acupuncture was applied in the treatment group and placebo acupuncture was used in the placebo group. The needles did not penetrate skin for the placebo group. Multiple indexes of exercise tolerance were measured, including exercise time, maximum oxygen uptake, and breathing measures. The results showed that the maximum oxygen uptake was increased after the treatment, as well as exercise time and walking distance. The authors conclude that acupuncture could improve exercise tolerance in these groups of patients.
References
- Tong J, et al. [Regulatory effects of acupuncture on exercise tolerance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at stable phase: a randomized controlled trial]. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2014;34(9):846-50.