OBJECTIVETo observe the impacts of moxibustion at Shenshu (BL 23) and Guanyuan (CV 4) on red blood cell (RBC) immune function and T-lymphocyte subsets in athletes.

METHODSTwenty-four table tennis players in the training were divided into a trial group and a control group according to the paired design, 12 cases in each one. The training program was the same in two groups. In the trial group, the players received moxibustion at Shenshu (BL 23) and Guanyuan (CV 4) 3 hours after training for 15 min, the treatment was given once each day, continuously for 5 weeks. In the control group, no moxibustion was applied. Before and after trial, the cycle ergometer was adopted for the fixed-load exercise. After exercise, the blood was collected from the vein for the detection of RBC C3b receptor rosette rate (RBC-C3bRR), RBC immune compound rosette rate (RBC-ICR) and T lymphocyte subsets CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD4/CD8.

RESULTS(1) Compared with the results before trial in the trial group and those in the control group, RBC-C3bRR was increased apparently and RBC-ICR was decreased significantly after trail in the trial group (all P < 0.01). The levels of CD3 and CD4 were increased as compared with the control group (both P < 0.05). In the control group, the differences in CD8 and CD4/CD8 were not significant statistically as compared with those before trial and those in the trail group (both P > 0.05); (2) In the control group, compared with the results before trial, RBC-C3bRR was reduced apparently (P < 0.05), the levels of CD3, CD4 and CD8 as well as CD4/CD8 were all reduced after trial (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONFor the athletes after heavy-load training, RBC immune and T-lymphocyte subsets function is decreased and the immunity is declined. Moxibustion at Shenshu (BL 23) and Guanyuan (CV 4) could improve erythrocyte immune function, relieve T-lymphocyte subsets function abnormality and increase the immunity in the athletes.