Effect of acupuncture depth on muscle pain

Research Kazunori Itoh, Yoichi Minakawa and Hiroshi Kitakoji

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Chinese Medicine 2011, 6:24?doi:10.1186/1749-8546-6-24

Published: 22 June 2011

While evidence supports efficacy of acupuncture and/or dry needling in treating musculoskeletal pain, it is unclear which needling method is most effective. This study aims to determine the effects of depth of needle penetration on muscle pain.

A total of 22 healthy volunteers performed repeated eccentric contractions to induce muscle soreness in their extensor digital muscle. Subjects were assigned randomly to four groups, namely control group, skin group (depth of 3mm: the extensor digital muscle), muscle group (depth of 10mm: the extensor digital muscle) and non-segmental group (depth of 10mm: the anterior tibial muscle). Pressure pain threshold and electrical pain threshold of the skin, fascia and muscle were measured at a point 20mm distal to the maximum tender point on the second day after the exercise.

Pressure pain thresholds of skin group (depth of 3mm: the extensor digital muscle) and muscle group (depth of 10mm: the extensor digital muscle) were significantly higher than the control group, whereas the electrical pain threshold at fascia of muscle group (depth of 10mm: the extensor digital muscle) was a significantly higher than control group; however, there was no significant difference between the control and other groups.

The present study shows that acupuncture stimulation of muscle increases the PPT and EPT of fascia. The depth of needle penetration is important for the relief of muscle pain.

Generic, Brand-Name Heart Drugs Seem to Have Same Effect on Thyroid (HealthDay)

WEDNESDAY, July 13 (HealthDay News) -- For patients taking the heart rhythm drug amiodarone (Cordarone), generic versions of the drug do not cause more incidents of thyroid dysfunction than the brand-name medication, researchers report.

When it comes to thyroid disease, there is no difference between the two drugs, according to the report released online July 11 in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

Amiodarone, a drug used to control arrhythmia -- a type of irregular heartbeat -- is known to cause hypothroidism and hyperthyroidism. These conditions affect the body's metabolism by altering the amount of hormone produced by the thyroid gland. Not enough thyroid hormone causes the body to slow down, resulting in weight gain, thinning hair and muscle pain. On the flip side, too much thyroid hormone results in nervousness, weight loss, rapid heart rate and diarrhea.

In conducting the study, researchers compared 2,804 atrial fibrillation patients aged 66 or older taking brand-name amiodarone (Cordarone) with 6,278 patients taking the generic form of the drug. The study revealed the two groups were equally affected by thyroid dysfunction.

"The incidence rate for thyroid dysfunction was estimated at 14.1 per 100 person-years, similar for both formulations," study author Dr. Louise Pilote, of the McGill University Health Center, and colleagues said in a journal news release. "The incidence rates for hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism per 100 person-years were comparable between brand-name and generic formulations, with hypothyroidism occurring more commonly than hyperthyroidism."

The study authors pointed out that the findings should provide doctors and policy makers with critical information regarding the use of brand-name vs. generic drugs.

The researchers also noted that patients taking amidarone should be aware of the drug's possible side effects so they can recognize and report any symptoms.

More information

The U.S. National Library of Medicine provides more information on thyroid diseases.