Positive Health Online

Abstract

LI and others, Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8519, Japan, have used acupressure to improve the condition of patients suffering from impaired blood flow in the extremities.

Background

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of acupressure on lower limb blood flow for the treatment of peripheral arterial occlusive diseases (PAOD).

Methodology

30 patients with stage II PAOD underwent measurements of the lower limb blood flow. 6 patients (group A) were assigned as controls without any acupoint stimulation, while 24 (group B) underwent stimulation at acupoints by acupressure. The acupoints Yanglingquan (GB34), Zusanli (ST36), Yinlingquan (SP9), and Sanyinjiao (SP6) of the symptomatic lower limbs were stimulated for 3 min. Transcutaneous oximetry (tcPO2) was used to determine the blood flow in the chest and feet before and during the stimulations at the acupoints.

Results

Group A showed no significant change in leg blood flow. In group B, the tcPO2 values of chest wall, bilateral distal crura, and the dorsum of foot of the stimulated leg increased significantly during acupressure (p < 0.01), whereas no significant change was shown in the dorsum of the foot of the non-stimulated leg. Moreover, the blood flow of the legs that had undergone an interruption of the sympathetic nerve supply increased significantly (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Acupressure was found to cause significant increases in the leg blood flow of stage II PAOD patients. This treatment modality may therefore be effective for improving the symptoms of such patients.

References

Li X, Hirokawa M, Inoue Y, Sugano N, Qian S, Iwai T. Effects of acupressure on lower limb blood flow for the treatment of peripheral arterial occlusive diseases. Surgery Today 37 (2): 103-108, 2007.