Objective:The primary aim of this study is to investigate the effect of application of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation over acupuncture points(Acu-TENS)on postexercise blood lactate level.The secondary aim is to explore the effect of Acu-TENS on heart rate recovery and its association with autonomic nervous system.Methods:Twenty healthy subjects(mean age 26.91.3)acting as their own controls,were randomized to receive either Acu-TENS or Placebo-TENS as the first of two intervention protocols,implemented one week apart.During Acu-TENS,subjects received 45 min TENS bilaterally over the acupoints Neiguan(PC6).Subjects receiving Placebo-TENS had identical electrode placement but with no electrical output from the TENS unit despite an active output light.Interventions were followed by a 10-min ergometer exercise at 70%age-predicted maximal heart rate.Oxygen consumption and heart rate(HR)were recorded continuously throughout exercise.Blood lactate and blood pressure were taken at 4 time points:prior to,immediately after,at 15-min after exercise,and when HR had returned to baseline values.Results:The post-exercise blood lactate level in the Acu-TENS group was lower than that of the placebo group by 1.120.39 mmol/L(p Z 0.01).The Acu-TENS group also had a faster return of HR to pre-exercise level compared to placebo(9.984.54 min,p Z 0.047).Heart rate variability analysis inferred reduced sympathetic modulation during exercise after Acu-TENS.There was no between-group difference in post-exercise oxygen consumption.Conclusion:Acu-TENS lowered post-exercise blood lactate level and enhanced heart rate recovery after moderate exercise.The role of Acu-TENS in exercise performance and energy metabolism warrants further investigation.(ClinicalTrails.gov Identifier:NCT01102634)a 2014 Beijing University of Chinese Medicine.Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/).
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