ArticleAmerican journal of translational research2026
Comparison of two acupuncture stimulation techniques at Hegu (LI4) on muscle and fascia stiffness, blood flow, and quality of life in healthy female volunteers.
Article in American journal of translational research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
objectiveTo evaluate the effects of Hegu (LI4) induced by two acupuncture stimulation techniques in healthy females using Shear Wave Elastography (SWE).
methodsForty-five right-handed healthy females were recruited in this study. Participants first received "Lifting-Thrusting" acupuncture stimulation (LT AS) at the right LI4 acupoint, followed by "Shaoshanhuo" acupuncture stimulation (SSH AS) at the left LI4 two weeks later. De-qi responses were measured using a professional data collection platform (Wenjuanxing). Muscle and fascia stiffness at the Hegu acupoint were assessed using SWE, and blood flow of the first dorsal metacarpal arteries (FDMA) was measured using Color Doppler Flow Imaging (CDFI) at three time points: before intervention (T0), 1 minute after intervention (T1), and 5 minutes after intervention (T2). Quality of life was evaluated using the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36).
resultsCompared with the LT AS, SSH AS induced stronger acupuncture sensation and greater expansiveness. SWE measurements demonstrated significant differences between the two acupuncture techniques in muscle and fascia stiffness, although these differences were not time-dependent. CDFI showed a transient increase in peak systolic velocity (PSV) and resistance index (RI) of the FDMA, which then recovered; end-diastolic velocity (EDV) and S/D ratio did not show significant changes. Infrared thermal imaging showed a decrease in the initial temperature, followed by acupuncture-induced elevation, with significant differences over time and between groups. Both acupuncture stimulation methods contributed to comparable SF-36 scores.
conclusionAlthough the two acupuncture stimulation methods (LT AS and SSH AS) differ in terms of acupuncture sensation and de-qi spread, they show similar temporal patterns regarding their effects on muscle/fascia stiffness, FDMA hemodynamics, and quality of life. However, the integrated effects differ significantly between the two techniques.
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