Effects of acupuncture on muscle strength of healthy subjects and stroke patients

• Register: REBEC
• Last refreshed on: 27 May 2013
• Main ID: RBR-5g7xqh
• Date of registration: 26/10/2011
• Primary sponsor: Centro Universitário Augusto Motta - Brazil
• Public title: Effects of acupuncture on muscle strength of healthy subjects and stroke patients
• Scientific title: Immediate effects of manual acupuncture on the biceps brachii muscle function in healthy subjects and chronic hemiparetic patients
• Date of first enrolment: 12/04/2011
• Target sample size: 80
• Recruitment status: data analysis completed
• URL: http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-5g7xqh/
• Study type: Intervention
• Study design: Clinical trial, randomized, four parallel groups, single-blinded

Countries of recruitment

Brazil

Contacts

• Name: Arthur Ferreira
• Affiliation: Centro Universitário Augusto Motta

• Name: Arthur Ferreira
• Affiliation: Centro Universitário Augusto Motta

Key inclusion & exclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: Control group: Absence of pain, trauma or musculoskeletal injuries in the upper limbs, neuromuscular diseases, pregnancy or some sort of unconfortable reaction to needling; Informed written consent signature after reading of the text and explanation of the objectives, risks and potential benefits from the participation in this research.
Hemiplegic group: Clinical diagnosis of upper neuron lesion due to stroke for at least 6 months, confirmed by image exams, both ischemic of hemorragic; Partial motor impairment of the upper limb function (hemiparesis); Absence of pain, trauma or musculoskeletal injuries in the upper limbs, neuromuscular diseases, pregnancy or some sort of unconfortable reaction to needling; Informed written consent signature after reading of the text and explanation of the objectives, risks and potential benefits from the participation in this research.
Exclusion criteria: Incomplete realization of any electromyographic signal acquisition; Low quality of electromyographic signal (less than 2-out-of-3 visible contraction events).

Age minimum: 20Y
Age maximum: 60Y
Gender: -

Health Condition(s) or Problem(s) studied

Stroke-related motor impairment
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Intervention(s)

The intervention will consist in a unique treatment session (day). All subjects from both groups (healthy control and stroke patients) will be in a sitting position with their upper limb supported during all procedure. The following procedure will be performed only once for each subjects: Location of the acupuncture points according to the modern pattern, followed by skin assepsia with 70% alchohol and saline solution hydration; Electrode positioning for recording of the surface electromyogram according to the Surface Electromyography for the Non-Invasive Assessment of Muscles (SENIAM) protocol for the biceps brachii muscle; Electromyographic signal acquisition during dynamometry; Needle insertion (45º angle) directed to the qi circulation with sterilized, disposable needles (0,20 x 13 mm) at approximately 1.5 cm deepth, followed by rotating maneuvers until the subjects reported the de qi sensation; At 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes, manual stimulation will be performed during 10 seconds; After 20 minutes, the needle will be withdraw and the signal acquisition repeated.

Primary Outcome(s)

Proportion of individuals with reduced muscle strength. Isometric muscle strength will be measured by the average of three maximal isometric voluntary contractions, each lasting 5 seconds, performed in the interval of 3 minutes each.

Proportion of subjects with reduced motor unit recruitment. Muscle recruitment will be measured by the average of RMS values of three maximal isometric voluntary contractions, each lasting 5 seconds, performed in the interval of 3 minutes each.

Secondary Outcome(s)

Prevalence of clinical manifestations in each subtype of clinical presentation. Clinical manifestations will be collected by interview with a clinical questionnaire.

Prevalence of subtypes of clinical presentations according to Chinese medicine. Subtypes will be classified by multivariate logistic regression based on the reported symptons.

Secondary ID(s)

CAAE-0006.0.307.000-10

Source(s) of Monetary Support

Centro Universitário Augusto Motta - Brazil

Secondary Sponsor(s)

Centro Universitário Augusto Motta - Brazil