Press-Tack Needle Acupuncture Reduces Postexercise Blood Lactic-Acid Levels in Sports Students.

OBJECTIVES: In sports, recovery after exercise is a very important process for athletes. Several studies have shown that the rate of an athletes recovery can be increased by several modalities, one of which is acupuncture. This study was conducted to learn how press-tack needle acupuncture reduces blood lactic-acid levels after sports students exercise.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a randomized controlled trial. Twenty-four sports students were divided into 2 groups: (1) an acupuncture group ( n  = 12) and (2) a control group ( n  = 12). In each acupuncture group member press-tack needles were attached on PC-6 Neiguan and ST-36 Zusanli 30 minutes before doing high-intensity exercise. Measurement of lactic-acid levels was performed at 5 minutes and at 30 minutes after exercise.

RESULTS: The mean levels of lactic acid at 5 minutes after exercise in the acupuncture group were higher ( p  = 0.028), compared to the control group. The mean levels of lactic acid at 30 minutes after exercise in the acupuncture group was lower ( p  = 0.572) than in the control group. The mean reduction of lactic acid levels in the acupuncture group from 5 minutes after exercise to 30 minutes after exercise was statistically higher ( p  = 0.007) than in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS: Press-tack needle acupuncture affects reduction of lactic-acid levels after high-intensity physical exercise. Further studies are needed to investigate the more-detailed biochemical mechanisms.This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT04892784).