Análise dos efeitos agudos da aplicação de acupuntura sistêmica sobre parâmetros de desempenho muscular em mulheres praticantes de exercício físico regular: um estudo clínico randomizado, controlado e duplo cego.

Abstract

The application of acupuncture has been used beyond its therapeutic purposes and thus its possible beneficial role as an ergogenic resource has also been investigated, i.e., a strategy that can help improve performance in some sports modalities and in several variables of physical fitness. Some studies have been able to show interesting results that reflected in improved physical performance, while others failed to show these positive changes for the same purpose. The aim of this study was to verify the immediate effects of acupuncture application on lower limb muscle performance in young, physically active women. This is a controlled, randomized, double-blind clinical study, with the participation of women recruited in the city of Alfenas, Minas Gerais. Initially, all participants underwent a clinical and anthropometric evaluation before starting the evaluations and the needle intervention. Warm- ups were performed on a treadmill, and then the participants were referred to the vertical jump test on a force platform and the isometric strength test of the extensor muscles of both knees using a portable load cell. Then, immediately after the tests, they were randomly divided into three groups and referred to the interventions: Acupuncture Group (AG): They received traditional acupuncture application on the points (V20, F13, E36, VB34 and BP6) for 30 minutes; Sham Group (SG): They received stimulation by the touch of the mandrel on the same points used by the acupuncture group, but without the skin puncture, remaining at rest for 30 minutes. Control Group (CG): Received only alcohol cleansing on the acupuncture points, without receiving any acupuncture intervention, and remained at rest for 30 minutes. All the aforementioned tests, from the warm-up, were repeated after the intervention period for each group mentioned above. The results presented by GA and CG show that there were no significant changes in the parameters evaluated, both in intragroup and intergroup analysis, while GS showed a significant decrease in the mean vertical jump height in the intragroup analysis (p=0.009). Thus, we conclude that the acupuncture protocol proposed in this study did not promote significant changes in lower limb muscle performance parameters (strength and muscle power) in young, physically active women.