Relaxing effect of lower leg acupuncture in sedentary university students with regard to physical movement and autonomic nerve activity: Randomized controlled trial

Aim To demonstrate the utility of press needles on the lower limbs in improving response to straight leg raise ( SLR ) test and cervical movement. Method A group of 28 university students with abnormal response to SLR test and cervical movement were randomly divided into an acupuncture group and a control group. The acupuncture group was treated with press needles at four acupoints on both lower limbs. In addition to evaluating movement in left–right SLR test and cervical movement using numerical rating scale, changes in heart rate were also monitored. Results No significant differences were noted between the acupuncture and control groups at baseline before treatment. After acupuncture treatment, mean score for left and right SLR test in the acupuncture group decreased by –3.79 ± 1.53 and –3.79 ± 1.37, respectively. Marked decrease was also noted for this group in the left–right cervical lateroflexion (by –1.29 ± 1.44 and –1.64 ± 1.91, respectively). Changes were also observed in the low frequency/high frequency ( LF / HF ) ratio after treatment in the acupuncture group, in that HF after treatment (converted to log10) was significantly higher than before ( LF / HF ratio, decrease by –1.20 ± 0.60; HF , 0.12 ± 0.13). No significant changes from baseline were noted in the control group. Conclusion Stimulation using press needles to the lower limbs can improve abnormalities in SLR and cervical movement, while additionally having a relaxing effect, which controls sympathetic activity and accelerates parasympathetic activity.