Effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation on postoperative muscle atrophy in patients with foot and ankle fracture: A randomized controlled pilot study

Ying Xue; Xiaoqian Dai; Xueming Chen; Shiqi Guo; Chunxian Wang; Zhili Li; Rui He; Zhaoxia Liu; Yinghui Li; Baixiao Zhao

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Effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation on postoperative muscle atrophy in patients with foot and ankle fracture: A randomized controlled pilot study

Author: Ying Xue ¹ ; Xiaoqian Dai ² ; Xueming Chen ³ ; Shiqi Guo ¹ ; Chunxian Wang ³ ; Zhili Li ² ; Rui He ⁴ ; Zhaoxia Liu ² ; Yinghui Li ⁵ ; Baixiao Zhao ¹
Author Information

1. School of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine,Beijing,China,102488
2. China Astronaut Research and Training Center,Beijing,China,100094
3. Beijing Luhe Hospital, Capital Medical University,Beijing,China,100069
4. School of Life Science, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine,Beijing,China,102488
5. China Astronaut Research and Training Center,Beijing,China,10009
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation; Muscle atrophy; Foot and ankle fracture; Randomized controlled trial; Rectus femoris; Gastrocnemius; Muscle thickness; Muscle cross-sectional area
From: Journal of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences 2025;2025(2):308-316
CountryChina
Language:English
Abstract: ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) for muscle atrophy in patients with immobilization after surgical fixation of foot and ankle fractures.MethodsThis was a two-arm randomized controlled trial wherein 80 patients were recruited and divided into control (n = 40) and intervention (n = 40) groups. The control group received conventional orthopedic treatment, whereas the intervention group received TEAS and conventional treatment. The intervention group received TEAS 3 times a week for 30 min each time for 8 weeks. The primary outcomes were muscle thickness (MT) and cross-sectional area (CSA) of the rectus femoris and gastrocnemius muscles, whereas the secondary outcome measure was echo intensity (EI). Data were collected before the fixation operations (baseline assessment) and 4 and 8 weeks after intervention.ResultsCompared with baseline, the MT and CSA were reduced in both groups by the end of treatment, whereas EI increased in both groups. At week 4, the reduction in the rectus femoris CSA in the intervention group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P = .02); however, the between-group differences in the MT and EI (all P .05) were not significant. No serious adverse events were observed in either group.ConclusionOur study showed that TEAS can improve muscle atrophy by attenuating the decline in the muscle CSA. Because this was only a pilot trial, subsequent studies will need longer follow-ups and larger sample sizes.