Effect of Electroacupuncture on Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness Induced by Eccentric Exercise in Young Untrained Men: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the effects of ipsilateral electroacupuncture at the site of exercise-induced pain and those of contralateral electroacupuncture on delayed-onset muscle soreness, muscle injury markers, and oxidative stress after eccentric exercise.

Design: Nineteen young men were randomly assigned to receive either contralateral electroacupuncture or ipsilateral electroacupuncture. All participants performed eccentric exercise using the biceps brachii muscle of the nondominant arm to induce muscle damage. Six sets of five repetitions were completed at 70% of maximal muscle strength. Electroacupuncture stimulation was applied to the dominant arm in the contralateral electroacupuncture group and the nondominant arm in the ipsilateral electroacupuncture group. Electroacupuncture stimulation was applied in both groups from 7 days before exercise to 4 days after exercise.

Results: Palpation pain was significantly lower in the ipsilateral electroacupuncture group than the contralateral electroacupuncture group at 72 and 96 hours after exercise. The muscle injury markers increased after exercise, but these changes were not significantly influenced by ipsilateral electroacupuncture stimulation. Ipsilateral electroacupuncture suppressed exercise-induced oxidative stress at 72 hours after exercise.

Conclusions: This study suggests that the direct electroacupuncture on the damaged muscle before and after eccentric exercise effectively reduces delayed-onset muscle soreness. Electroacupuncture might suppress increases in oxidative stress elicited by eccentric exercise.