The purpose of this study is to evaluate physical characteristics of boxing players with/without low back pain (LBP). Materials and methods : 18 college boxing players were divided into two groups ; The first group consisted of eight subjects with LBP (LBP group), the other one consisted of ten subjects without LBP (no LBP group). The evaluation items were as follows : muscular strength of trunk extension/ flexion/ rotation, cross-sectional areas of the muscles of the lumber region, X ray photograph of lumber spine, MRI, general joint laxity test, muscle tightness test, muscle hardness, tenderness and moiré topography. Results : 9 out of 18 subjects showed lumber region abnormalities in their X ray photograph and MRI. The following evaluation items of LBP group read significant differences compared to those of no LBP group ; The trunk rotator peak torque was weaker at the angular velocity of 120 deg/sec, the laterality of SLR was significantly larger, while the finger floor distance value indicated significantly lower. Discussion : In LBP group, it is suggested that the decline of trunk flexion muscle strength possibly preceded the fall of trunk extension muscle strength which, however, was not observed.

[Objective]The purpose of this study is to evaluate an effect of electroacupuncture therapy on low back pain of collegiate athletes.
[Methods]Subjects were 28 collegiate athletes with low back pain who gave informed consent. They consulted a medical doctor beforehand. The electroacupuncture therapy was performed as acupuncture. The evaluation items were as follows:Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) which expresses the state of the pain (Pain-VAS), VAS which shows a training state (Training-VAS), five phases of evaluations to show a training state, pain at the time of the trunk movements, Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RDQ), and Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score. The correlation of each item was estimated.
[Results]The chief complaint of 27 people was low back pain, and one person had pain of the low back and the lower extremities. In the diagnosis, 16 people had non-specific low back pain, 5people had lumbar vertebrae discopathy, and 3had a lumber vertebrae herniated disk. As a result of acupuncture, the training-VAS and five phases of evaluations to show the training state and JOA score were significantly improved. However, as for the pain-VAS and pain at the time of trunk movements and RDQ, a significant difference was not accepted.
[Conclusion]Training-VAS is useful for measuring the outcome of an athlete with low back pain. It is important that athletes with low back pain evaluate their training.

[Objective] To report the activity by the athletic trainer in a collegiate boxing club, focusing on acupuncture for medical treatment.
[Methods] The athletic trainer was Japan a Japan Sports Association certifiedathletic trainer who was a practitioner of acupuncture and moxibustion. Subjects were twenty-seven collegiate boxers who participated for one year from April, 2004 to March, 2005.
[Results] The activity by the athletic trainer was performed for thirty two days. Medical treatment was performed up to 2.2 times a day. Seventy-one people were treated by the athletic trainer. Medical treatments were acupuncture 28 (39.4%), massage 24 (33.8%), taping 4 (5.6%), and partner stretch 3 (4.2%). Thirteen people (48.1%) had acupuncture. In acupuncture, fifteen people (50%) had a chief complaint in the hand.
[Discussion] Acupuncture was requested by the boxers. The continuation of the activity by the athletic trainer was required for boxing.

[Objective]To investigate whether acupuncture is effective to prevent fatigue and oxidative stress in distance runners.
[Methods]A total of 17 runners were recruited and randomized to receive acupuncture (Press Tack Needle) or placebo treatment. Subjects received treatment from licensed acupuncturists before a 10 km race. The primary outcome measures were oxidative stress, as determined by electron spin resonance (ESR), and fatigue, as assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Secondary outcome measures were GOT, LDH, and CPK.
[Results]Fatigue was significantly increased in both groups after the race. There was no difference in both groups.
Hydroxyl radical scavenging activity tended to increase in both groups after the race.
[Conclusion]The study found no useful acupuncture aspects of oxidative stress and fatigue.