Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing
Volume 6, Issue 2 , Pages 100-105, March 2010

Radial Artery Hemodynamic Changes Related to Acupuncture

  • Shin Takayama, MD

      Affiliations

    • Center for Asian Traditional Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
    • ,
  • Takashi Seki, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Center for Asian Traditional Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding Author. Address: 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
    • ,
  • Norihiro Sugita, Deng

      Affiliations

    • Department of Electrical and Communication Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
    • ,
  • Satoshi Konno, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
    • ,
  • Hiroyuki Arai, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
    • ,
  • Yoshifumi Saijo, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Biomedical Imaging, Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
    • ,
  • Tomoyuki Yambe, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
    • ,
  • Nobuo Yaegashi, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Center for Asian Traditional Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
    • ,
  • Makoto Yoshizawa, Deng

      Affiliations

    • Research Division on Advanced Information Technology, Cyberscience Center, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
    • ,
  • Shin-ichi Nitta, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan

Background

Assessment of the radial pulse by palpation (pulse diagnosis) is an important diagnostic technique in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), but the changes of blood flow volume in the radial artery during and after acupuncture are unknown.

Objective

The aim of this study was to explore the changes of radial artery blood flow volume during and after acupuncture in healthy subjects.

Design

This study was conducted as a pilot study utilizing a one-group intervention design.

Setting

The study was conducted at a TCM outpatient clinic of Tohoku University Hospital.

Participants

Twenty-six healthy volunteers participated in the study.

Intervention

Acupuncture was performed at LR-3 bilaterally with manual rotation of the needles.

Outcome Measures

Blood pressure was measured at rest and 180 seconds after acupuncture. Radial artery hemodynamics were monitored continuously with a high-resolution ultrasound echo-tracking system. The vessel diameter and blood flow volume of the right radial artery and heart rate were measured at rest, before acupuncture, during acupuncture, and 30, 60, and 180 seconds after acupuncture.

Results

The systolic and diastolic diameter of the radial artery did not significantly change. Radial artery blood flow volume decreased significantly during acupuncture (mean ± SD, 0.16 ± 0.11 mL/sec per m2; P < .01) compared with baseline (0.43 ± 0.27 mL/sec per m2), but was increased at 180 seconds after acupuncture (0.54 ± 0.28 mL/sec per m2; P < .01).

Conclusions

The present study showed that radial artery blood flow volume decreased immediately during acupuncture at the LR-3 acupoint, but was increased at 180 seconds after acupuncture.

Key words: Acupuncture, radial artery, blood flow volume, ultrasound

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 This work was supported by Special Coordination Funds for Promoting Science and Technology from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology that were awarded to Shin-ichi Nitta

PII: S1550-8307(09)00391-7

doi:10.1016/j.explore.2009.12.001

Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing
Volume 6, Issue 2 , Pages 100-105, March 2010

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