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Explore (New York, N.Y.) Jun 2024The present study aimed to investigate the effect of acupressure on comfort, anxiety, stress, depression, and vital signs in patients undergoing coronary angiography.
AIM
The present study aimed to investigate the effect of acupressure on comfort, anxiety, stress, depression, and vital signs in patients undergoing coronary angiography.
METHODS
This randomized clinical trial was conducted on patients who underwent coronary angiography in Tehran, Iran. Seventy patients were randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups. The intervention protocol consisted of 20 min of acupressure applied to the Yintang point, and standard medical care was applied to the control group. Depression, Anxiety, and Stress questionnaire (DASS-21), General Comfort Questionnaire (GCQ) questionnaires, and standard monitoring were used as data collection tools before and after intervention, as well as after angiography. Data were analyzed using an independent sample t-test, chi-squared, and analysis of variance of repeated measures in SPSS software, and the level of significance was set at 0.05.
FINDINGS
The results showed that before acupressure, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. Anxiety and stress scores and comfort levels decreased significantly after the intervention (p < 0.001), while no significant difference was observed in the depression score (p = 0.873). There was a significant decrease in the blood pressure, breathing rate, and heart rate in the intervention group.
CONCLUSION
Acupressure can reduce the anxiety and stress of angiography candidates and make them more comfortable. It also reduces the blood pressure, breathing rate, and heart rate. Further studies at different pressure points and on a larger and more detailed scale are necessary.
PubMed: 38918120
DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2024.103021 -
Journal of Osteopathic Medicine Jun 2024Anxiety disorders have a far-reaching impact on society, with profound implications on both mental and physical health. In response, there is growing interest in manual...
CONTEXT
Anxiety disorders have a far-reaching impact on society, with profound implications on both mental and physical health. In response, there is growing interest in manual therapy modalities, with emerging research suggesting their potential to alleviate related symptoms.
OBJECTIVES
To establish a consensus regarding manual therapy modalities for addressing anxiety symptoms, a systematic review of current literature was conducted.
METHODS
A literature search was conducted between May and August 2023, utilizing a systematic search on both PubMed and Google Scholar, adhering to the defined inclusion criteria. In addition, information was gathered utilizing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Both authors (KLW and TH) conducted the literature review. The inclusion criteria include articles written in English, peer-reviewed, anxiety conditions documented, and manual therapy delivered by a respectfully qualified professional. Manual therapy modalities include massage therapy, osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), foot reflexology, acupressure, manual therapy, healing touch, therapeutic touch, and gentle touch. After initial data collection, both researchers independently screened articles utilizing two metrics: a level of evidence (LOE) table and a screening criterion incorporating unique elements from the search process. The quality of the included articles was assessed utilizing Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy (SORT). When reviewer discrepancies arose, authors reread full-text studies and discussed the inclusion and exclusion criteria to achieve consensus.
RESULTS
The data searches identified 8,979 articles, with 239 articles remaining after duplicates and nonapplicable articles were removed. A total of 42 articles met the inclusion criteria, with only 40 articles able to be obtained for full-article review. After full review and the exclusion of articles with invalid author conclusions, meta-analysis, or systematic reviews, 34 articles were included in the review. All articles received an LOE rating of 2 or better and aligned with our specific screening criteria. Based on SORT, each modality was assigned a "B" rating. Among the included articles, n=27 demonstrated statistical significance in favor of manual therapy modalities as an anxiety treatment. The positive results for the aforementioned manual therapies on anxiety symptom improvement are shown: 15/18 (83 %) massage therapy, 2/6 (33 %) OMT, 5/5 (100 %) foot reflexology, 1/1 (100 %) acupressure, 1/1 (100 %) manual therapy, 0/2 (0 %) healing touch, 1/1 (100 %) therapeutic touch, and 1/1 (100 %) gentle touch.
CONCLUSIONS
A pattern emerged, wherein individuals receiving manual therapy interventions displayed a statistically significant reduction in anxiety intensity. Considering the positive results, manual therapy should be considered an effective strategy for anxiety management.
PubMed: 38905700
DOI: 10.1515/jom-2024-0001 -
Ciencia & Saude Coletiva Jun 2024The article aims to verify the influence of MNFs on the duration of the birth process. A systematic review was carried out in the MEDLINE, Web of Science and LILACS...
The article aims to verify the influence of MNFs on the duration of the birth process. A systematic review was carried out in the MEDLINE, Web of Science and LILACS databases, through a combination of terms that cover the topic addressed, from 1996 to 2021/April. The Excel spreadsheet was used to collect data to extract information regarding each selected article, in turn, data analysis included the evaluation and classification of quality, reliability and risk of bias, thus, the following tools were used: Cochrane RoB 2, Checklist and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Warm bath, walking, exercises with a birthing ball, breathing techniques, supine position, acupuncture, acupressure and water birth reduced labor time. While spontaneous pushing, massage and immersion baths prolonged labor. Non-pharmacological methods capable of reducing the duration of labor were hot/warm shower, walking, birth ball exercises, breathing techniques, maternal mobility, dorsal position, acupuncture, acupressure and water birth, as well. associated applied techniques such as hot/warm bath, ball exercises and lumbosacral massage, as well as immersion bath, ball exercises, aromatherapy, vertical postures and maternal mobility with alternating vertical postures, shortened the birth time.
Topics: Humans; Time Factors; Female; Pregnancy; Labor, Obstetric; Delivery, Obstetric; Reproducibility of Results; Parturition
PubMed: 38896686
DOI: 10.1590/1413-81232024296.19032022 -
Frontiers in Surgery 2024About one-third of patients experience postoperative ileus (POI) after abdominal surgery, which can cause various complications and has not been treated well in clinical...
BACKGROUND
About one-third of patients experience postoperative ileus (POI) after abdominal surgery, which can cause various complications and has not been treated well in clinical practice. The comprehensive treatment offered by traditional Chinese medicine may be a good choice for promoting intestinal mobility. Therefore, the aim of this study protocol is to observe the effectiveness of acupuncture combined with auricular acupressure in decreasing the incidence and related symptoms of POI.
METHODS
This is a single-center, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial. A total of 160 participants are supposed to recruit at Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital and randomly divided into two parallel groups in a 1:1 ratio. The intervention group are planned to receive manual acupuncture combined with auricular acupressure, while the control group are planned to receive regular enhanced recovery after surgery treatment. The primary outcome is the time to first defecation and first flatus after surgery. The secondary outcomes include the length of postoperative hospital stay, intensity of postoperative abdominal pain and distension, severity of postoperative nausea and vomiting, time to tolerate diet, inflammatory index, and incidence of prolonged postoperative ileus.
DISCUSSION
The results of this research will provide substantial evidence regarding the efficacy of comprehensive traditional Chinese treatment, specifically auricular acupressure and manual acupuncture, in treating and preventing POI.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov, Identifier: ChiCTR2300075983, registered on September 21, 2023.
PubMed: 38887315
DOI: 10.3389/fsurg.2024.1349975 -
Frontiers in Neurology 2024Drawing on the principles of wrist-ankle acupuncture (WAA), our research team has developed a portable device for WAA point compression, termed the acupressure...
BACKGROUND
Drawing on the principles of wrist-ankle acupuncture (WAA), our research team has developed a portable device for WAA point compression, termed the acupressure wrist-ankle strap (AWA). The current study aims to evaluate the efficacy of the AWA in alleviating pain associated with primary dysmenorrhea.
METHODS
A single-blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted from April 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019. 78 participants with primary dysmenorrhea were recruited from Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. All participants were treated on the first day of menstruation for 30 min. Participants in the AWA group used the AWA, the internal side of which is equipped with a tip compression component, while participants in the non-acupressure wrist-ankle acupuncture(NAWA)group used the NAWA, with the inside tip pressing parts removed. The main outcome was the difference in visual analogue scale (VAS) score between baseline and 30 minutes after randomization.
RESULTS
A total of 78 participants aged 18 to 30 years were included in the intention-to-treat analyses. The VAS scores (mean [standard deviation]) in the AWA group were significantly lower than those in the NAWA group at each time point of intervention (5 minutes: 95% CI, [-1.27 to -0.68], < 0.001; 10 minutes: 95% CI, [-2.34 to -1.51], < 0.001; 30 minutes: 95% CI, [-3.74 to -2.72], < 0.001). In the AWA group, 16 participants reported "obvious relief" of dysmenorrhea pain while 23 did not; the average onset time of analgesia they reported were (21.50 ± 3.65) min, while no subjects in NAWA group reported obvious pain relief. The pain threshold (mean [standard deviation]) at SP9 of both sides in AWA group decreased significantly after intervention that in NAWA group (Left: 95% CI, [-5.02 to -1.81], < 0.001; Right: 95% CI, [-7.67 to -4.24], < 0.001). There was no significant change in the temperature at CV4 in either group (95% CI, [-0.63 to -0.66], = 0.970).
CONCLUSION
This trial substantiates our hypothesis that the AWA provides immediate analgesic effects. The AWA represents an effective and safe non-invasive physical therapy option, which patients can self-administer to alleviate abdominal pain.
PubMed: 38872824
DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1362586 -
Integrative Cancer Therapies 2024Among leukemia patients, sleep disruptions are prevalent and can profoundly affect their overall quality of life. Acupressure and foot reflexology, modalities rooted in... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
BACKGROUND
Among leukemia patients, sleep disruptions are prevalent and can profoundly affect their overall quality of life. Acupressure and foot reflexology, modalities rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, have garnered attention for their potential to address sleep disturbances and mitigate associated symptoms.
METHODS
This research utilized a randomized controlled trial with a pretest-posttest design involving 102 leukemia patients admitted to Imam Khomeini Hospital in Urmia. Participants were randomly allocated to 3 groups: acupressure (n = 34), reflexology (n = 34), or control (n = 34). Prior to the intervention, patients completed a demographic survey and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for baseline assessments. Acupressure involved stimulation of the SP6 point twice daily for 10 minutes over 4 weeks, while reflexology entailed daily 10-minute sessions with sweet almond oil on the soles for the same duration. The control group received standard care without additional interventions. Following the 4-week intervention period, post-intervention evaluations were conducted using identical measurement tools.
RESULTS
The findings underscored the efficacy of both acupressure and foot reflexology in significantly improving sleep quality within the intervention groups ( < .001). Initially, there were no notable differences in sleep quality among the 3 groups ( > .05). Subsequently, pairwise comparisons adjusted with Bonferroni corrections revealed significant disparities in sleep quality between the acupressure and reflexology groups compared to the control group ( < .001). However, post-intervention analysis indicated no statistically significant variance in enhancing sleep quality between the acupressure and foot reflexology groups ( < .05).
CONCLUSION
This study demonstrates that acupressure and foot reflexology interventions can enhance sleep quality in individuals with leukemia. These findings support the effectiveness of these complementary modalities, offering targeted relief and relaxation. While these non-invasive therapies show promise in improving well-being, further research is needed to confirm and expand upon these results due to study limitations.
Topics: Humans; Acupressure; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Adult; Quality of Life; Sleep Quality; Foot; Leukemia; Massage; Sleep Wake Disorders; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 38872330
DOI: 10.1177/15347354241261356 -
Alternative Therapies in Health and... Jun 2024To evaluate the clinical effects of five-element music therapy combined with auricular-plaster therapy for perimenopausal insomnia with anxiety. This study aimed to...
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical effects of five-element music therapy combined with auricular-plaster therapy for perimenopausal insomnia with anxiety. This study aimed to leverage the complementary effects of both approaches to provide patients with a more comprehensive and personalized therapeutic experience.
METHODS
In this experiment, 90 cases of perimenopausal insomnia patients were selected and randomly assigned to the treatment group (45 cases) and the control group (45 cases) using the random number table method. In the treatment group, except for 2 cases who withdrew, the remaining 43 cases were observed and treated with Five Elements Music combined with auricular acupressure therapy. In the control group, except 3 cases withdrew, 42 cases were observed and given alprazolam oral treatment. The treatment course of both groups was 4 weeks. Data such as Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) scores were also recorded for all patients before and after treatment.
RESULTS
After treatment, the total effective rate was 93.02% in the treatment group and 88.10% in the control group. The PSQI and HAMA scores of the two groups after treatment improved compared to before treatment(P < .01). The curative effect in the treatment group was superior to that in the control group in terms of sleep quality and anxiety.
CONCLUSION
The five-element music therapy combined with auricular-plaster therapy is effective in the treatment of perimenopausal insomnia with anxiety. Compared with traditional therapy, Chinese medicine non-drug therapy has the characteristics of green safety, simple effect, and low cost. It can avoid adverse reactions caused by long-term use of drugs, so It is a safe and reliable method, worthy of recommendation for clinical use.
PubMed: 38870496
DOI: No ID Found -
Maturitas Jun 2024Acupoint-stimulating therapies have often been used to manage stroke-related spasticity and motor dysfunction. However, the effects of different acupoint-stimulating... (Review)
Review
Comparing the effects of different acupoint-stimulating therapies in mitigating post-stroke spasticity and motor dysfunction in older stroke survivors: A network meta-analysis of randomized trials.
Acupoint-stimulating therapies have often been used to manage stroke-related spasticity and motor dysfunction. However, the effects of different acupoint-stimulating therapies in older stroke survivors have been unclear. This systematic review and network meta-analysis compared the effects of different acupoint-stimulating therapies in managing spasticity and motor dysfunction in older stroke survivors. The study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We searched 7 databases for studies published up to July 2023. Inclusion criteria were: (1) older adults with strokes; (2) treatments were acupoint-stimulating therapies; (3) a control group did not receive acupoint-stimulating therapy, or the study compared different acupoint-stimulating therapies; and (4) outcomes included spasticity and motor function. Methodological quality was assessed with Risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials version 2, while R and Metainsight were used to conduct the network meta-analysis. We analyzed 27 studies and the results showed that non-invasive electroacupuncture and warm acupuncture were more effective in reducing spasticity than conventional acupuncture (standardized mean difference and 95 % confidence intervals = 1.35/1.19 [0.57; 2.13/0.54; 1.83]) and invasive electroacupuncture (standardized mean difference and 95 % confidence intervals = 0.96/0.80 [0.12; 1.80/0.08; 1.51]). Conventional acupuncture and invasive electroacupuncture were effective in improving motor function (standardized mean difference and 95 % confidence intervals = 0.99/1.41 [0.42; 1.56/0.54; 2.28]). However, there was significant inconsistency for the effects of invasive electroacupuncture between studies. Our findings suggest that for older stroke survivors with spasticity, non-invasive electroacupuncture and warm acupuncture are appropriate, whereas conventional acupuncture is more appropriate for patients aiming for motor recovery. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: This study was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42023442202).
PubMed: 38852490
DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2024.108040 -
Complementary Therapies in Clinical... Jun 2024Postoperative shoulder-tip pain (STP) is a common complication following laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). The study seeks to determine whether acupressure can be used...
BACKGROUND
Postoperative shoulder-tip pain (STP) is a common complication following laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). The study seeks to determine whether acupressure can be used as an alternative to medication for pain relief, as medications often come with side effects. This study aims to evaluate the effect of acupressure on pain levels and physiological indicators in patients undergoing LC.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This double-blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted on 81 patients who underwent LC at Al-Zahra Hospital of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran, in 2022. The patients were divided into two groups: the intervention group, which received acupressure (42 participants), and the control group (39 participants). The selected pressure points were LI11, LI4, SJ5, HT7, P6, and K1. Demographic and clinical data were collected, and the pain level was evaluated using the visual analogue score (VAS). The data was analyzed using SPSS version 16 software with a significance level of p < 0.05.
RESULTS
The intervention and control groups were homogeneous in terms of age, gender, duration of surgery, and pethidine consumption (p > 0.05). The average VAS significantly decreased in both the intervention and control groups (p < 0.001). The intervention group had a significantly higher reduced score compared to the control group, 30 min and 72 h after applying acupressure (p < 0.001). Significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), and breath rate (BR) (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
acupressure can effectively improve STP and physiological indicators in patients undergoing LC.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NO
IRCT20150715023216N14 (Registration date: 2023-01-22, https://irct.behdasht.gov.ir/user/trial/68111/view).
PubMed: 38850620
DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2024.101868